Trainer Tony McEvoy is awaiting the Turnbull Stakes to provide clarity on his stable star, Half Yours, and its potential for a Cox Plate campaign.
This Saturday at Flemington, McEvoy aims to see the horse, a dual Cups winner from last year, solidify its standing as a serious Cox Plate contender.
The 2000-metre Turnbull Stakes is expected to feature rivals such as Sir Delius, Birdman, and Aeliana, who are currently prominent in Cox Plate betting. McEvoy believes the Turnbull offers the ideal proving ground for Half Yours to demonstrate its capability at the highest level.
“That’s what we’re hoping and that’s what his work’s telling us,” McEvoy explained.
“The Turnbull is in the fork in the road for him.
“I don’t want to run him in a Cox Plate if he can’t win a Cox Plate, but if he matches it with them in the Turnbull, he’ll go to the Cox Plate.”
Beyond Saturday’s engagement, the $6 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) looms as another option for Half Yours. He triumphed in this event last year and will carry 57.5kg in the upcoming running.
Half Yours has not recorded a win since his Melbourne Cup victory last year. His sole race this season was a sixth-place finish in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on September 12, where he was the standout performer in terms of sectional times.
He finished 4.65 lengths behind the winner, Sheza Alibi, but was closely matched with Sir Delius, who was the first horse home in the Makybe Diva Stakes and is set to contest the Turnbull Stakes, just three-quarters-of-a-length ahead.
The Makybe Diva Stakes saw Half Yours start from barrier 10, continuing a trend of wide draws that has affected his racing pattern. McEvoy is particularly hopeful for a more advantageous barrier position this week.
“He hasn’t drawn a gate for a long time and we’ve been forced to go back,” he stated.
“He can sit three or four lengths closer in a race, if we draw well. He’s due to draw a gate.
“He’s got to tick the 2000-metre box at this level. He’s an elite stayer, but we’ve kept him nice and sharp with just that one mile race coming into this and I think he’ll run really well.”
Bookmakers are offering competitive betting markets for the Turnbull Stakes, with Half Yours expected to be a popular choice.