Short-priced favourite Point of Law on Tuesday surged to victory at the Aus$10 million (US$7.2 million) Melbourne Cup, earning jockey Ethan Brown a debut win in Australia's "race that stops a nation".
The three-year-old, formerly owned by King Charles, came home ahead of Zahrann and Juja Kibo in the energy-sapping 3,200-metre (two-mile) handicap at Flemington, all of them trained by Ciaron Maher.
"Don't wake me up. Amazing feeling," said Brown, while praising Maher.
"He's done nothing but support me and backed me and I buggered up plenty of times on his horses and he just had nothing but faith."
It was only the British raider's sixth career start and he had never raced over 3,200m.
He drew a prime middle barrier (nine) and had the bookmakers excited after powering to victory carrying Brown at the lead-up Geelong Cup.
That was his Australian debut after being purchased by Maher from King Charles.
A cultural institution in Australia, the Melbourne Cup has been run since 1861 and is considered so important it is a public holiday in its host state of Victoria.
Held in front of a bumper crowd, drinking and socialising took priority over racing for many, with the sound of popping champagne corks accompanying the thundering of hooves.
Breaking from barrier 21, another Maher horse, Royal Supremacy, went out hard and by 1,500m was in an eight-length lead in the 23-strong pack.
With 1,000m to go, the lead was 20 lengths, but it began tiring and was slowly reeled in down the home straight with Point of Law surging past with 150m to go.
Jamie Melham, who steered Half Yours to a thrilling victory in 2025, becoming only the second woman jockey to do so, could not repeat the feat.
Half Yours took a nasty fall at the Caulfield Cup last month and was unfit to race, with Melham instead on outside chance Future History, which came 16th.
There was also no joy for Robbie Dolan, who rode Knight's Choice to victory in 2024.
He was on board the gelding again, steering it to sixth.
In pre-race drama, 2020 champion jockey Jye McNeil's horse Asterix, trained by Chris Waller, was scratched by stewards for having a prohibited muscle strain medication on both forelegs.
Waller admitted to the "simple mistake" and was fined.