Half Yours has received a 2kg penalty for the Melbourne Cup after his victory in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup, with the gelding to carry 53kg in next month’s 3200m showpiece at Flemington.

The decision was confirmed by Racing Victoria’s head of handicapping, David Hegan, who said the penalty reflected the gelding’s strong progression under Tony and Calvin McEvoy. Half Yours carried 52.5kg in the Caulfield Cup — which included a prior 1.5kg penalty for his Naturalism Stakes win — and the new impost represents a weight swing of between 1.5kg and 2.5kg for his beaten rivals heading into the Melbourne Cup.

“The 2kg penalty lifts Half Yours to 53kg and gives those behind him in the Caulfield Cup a small advantage in the Melbourne Cup,” Hegan said. “It’s consistent with recent history — Durston received the same penalty in 2022, and both horses share similar profiles.”

Half Yours’ performance in the Caulfield Cup was his third win from four recent black-type starts, including a Group 1 placing. The victory not only earned him a ballot exemption but also elevated him to the top of the Melbourne Cup order of entry.

The five-year-old son of St Jean now sits as the $3.50 favourite in Melbourne Cup betting, with dual Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra expected to ride topweight Al Riffa ($6) as his main rival at 59kg.

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