Half Yours reigns supreme in the Caulfield Cup 2025

When Half Yours began his spring campaign, the training duo of Tony and Calvin McEvoy had their sights set on a Sydney Group 1 — but fate had other plans. A last-minute decision to head south instead of staying in Sydney proved a masterstroke, culminating in a career-defining victory in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

The stayer’s original target had been the Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick, but when he was only listed as an emergency for the Kingston Town Stakes in September, the McEvoys made a bold switch — sending him to Melbourne for the Naturalism Stakes (2000m). The decision paid off handsomely, with victory there granting him a golden ticket into the Caulfield Cup.

From there, a strong fourth in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) confirmed his credentials — and on Saturday, he delivered in style. Ridden perfectly by Jamie Melham, the $2.50 favourite held off outsider River Of Stars ($91) by a long neck, with Valiant King ($26) another length away in third.

“This is why we do it — to have a runner in these,” a jubilant Tony McEvoy said. “They’re bloody hard to win, and that was incredible. He’s come a long way in six months, this fellow. Travelling really grows horses up, and he’s gone from a big raw horse to a real stayer.”

McEvoy credited a mid-year Queensland stint for transforming the gelding’s maturity. “The trip away did wonders for him,” he said. “The way he walked into the paddock today, he looked like a proper stayer — and then he went and proved it.”

Half Yours began his career with the Ciaron Maher stable before being purchased on the advice of the McEvoys’ racing manager, Rayan Moore. “It’s so exciting,” McEvoy added. “I was happy in the run, then mid-race when Adelaide River took off, I thought it might mess things up — but he got into rhythm and did the rest. Fabulous.”

For Jamie Melham, the triumph marked her 17th career Group 1 success but her first win in one of Australia’s “majors.”

“I’ve tried not to think about it too much,” Melham said. “I just wanted to come here, ride my race and give him the best chance because I knew he was the best horse. Just saying ‘Caulfield Cup’ makes me emotional. I’ve ridden 17 Group 1s now but always wanted a major — and now I want more. Maybe a Melbourne Cup — and this horse will run that trip out.”

Following his Caulfield Cup victory, Half Yours has rocketed to the top of Melbourne Cup (3200m) betting at $3.50, ahead of Al Riffa ($6) and Valiant King ($11). For the latest odds and bookmaker offers on the Cup and other spring features, visit Australia’s top betting sites.

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