Tony McEvoy has taken another significant step toward fulfilling his ambition of winning the Melbourne Cup, with his Caulfield Cup hero Half Yours drawing favourably ahead of Tuesday’s famous staying test.

The gelding has come up with barrier eight, a draw that saw him maintain clear favouritism for the 3200-metre Group 1 at Flemington.

Half Yours remains at the top of the Melbourne Cup odds at $6, with a cluster of runners also at single figures in the 24-horse field.

“What this barrier allows us to do is not make any decisions,” McEvoy said.

“At Caulfield we were chasing him a little bit to ride Caulfield, but with Flemington you can be patient.

“If you draw 20 or 24, you’re out there but in the back quarter. We can be midfield and be patient and that is the beautiful thing about a good barrier.”

Among the leading opponents, Chris Waller’s Buckaroo drew gate 12, with stablemates Valiant King in 10, River Of Stars in 14, and longshot More Felons out in 23.

Waller assistant Charlie Duckworth welcomed Buckaroo’s marble.

“It is a great result as you take a risk when you’ve got a genuine weight-for-age contender,” Duckworth said.

“We could go to other options but we’re rolling the dice and going in the Melbourne Cup.

“Hopefully he can get a more economical run than last year.”

Form analyst Trent Crebbin agreed most of the key hopes had drawn acceptably.

“Especially the Waller pair of Buckaroo and Valiant King,” Crebbin said.

“Buckaroo covered far too much ground from 20 last year and 12. This year’s race looks more suitable.

“Top jockeys Mark Zahra (Al Riffa) and James McDonald (Meydaan) will have decisions to make from 19 and 22 respectively, especially with nearly a full minute of racing before they reach the first bend.”

Valiant King is the $7 second favourite, Buckaroo sits at $8, and Al Riffa is quoted at $9.

Ciaron Maher will be represented by three runners, including Smokin Romans, who will carry 54kg after Ben Melham was granted approval to ride 0.5kg over.