Trainer Tony McEvoy is keen for the Turnbull Stakes to serve as a crucial determinant for Half Yours’ future racing plans.
McEvoy is looking for his stable star, the winner of last year’s Cups double, to confirm itself as a genuine Cox Plate contender this Saturday at Flemington.
The 2000-metre Turnbull Stakes is anticipated to be a competitive affair, with Sir Delius, Birdman, and Aeliana – the current top three in Cox Plate betting – likely to be among Half Yours’ opponents. McEvoy believes this race provides the ideal stage for Half Yours to prove it can compete at the elite level.
“That’s what we’re hoping and that’s what his work’s telling us,” McEvoy said.
“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.”
The alternative for Half Yours after Saturday’s run is the $6 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), a race he won last year and for which he has been assigned 57.5kg this year.
Half Yours has not achieved a victory since his Melbourne Cup win last year. His single start this campaign resulted in 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 only three-quarters-of-a-length behind Sir Delius, who was the first horse home in the Makybe Diva Stakes and will be participating in the Turnbull Stakes.
Half Yours started from barrier 10 in the Makybe Diva Stakes, continuing a pattern of wide draws that has impacted his racing tactics. McEvoy is particularly hopeful for a more favourable draw this week.
“He hasn’t drawn a gate for a long time and we’ve been forced to go back,” he noted.
“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.”
The Turnbull Stakes presents an exciting opportunity for punters to get involved with the Australian betting sites.
