Half Yours will line up in Saturday’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, a race that was not originally part of his spring plan but now serves as the perfect lead-up to the Caulfield Cup (2400m).
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained stayer had been targeted at The Metropolitan (2400m) in Sydney, but when he was listed as an emergency for the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m), the stable instead headed south to Caulfield. That decision proved a masterstroke, with Half Yours winning the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) and gaining a coveted ballot exemption for the Caulfield Cup.
“We were on the cusp of both the Kingston Town and the Naturalism and having a lowish rated horse going into the spring, we thought he would be fine going on previous years, but there must be a little more depth this year,” Calvin McEvoy said.
“It was a relief when we made the call to come to Melbourne and got into the race as he needed to win that race to get into the Caulfield Cup. We were confident that he could do it and it was nice to see him do it.”
The Flemington contest represents a significant rise in class, with rivals including the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup favourites. McEvoy, however, is optimistic after drawing barrier four.
“We’ve got the favourite for the Cox Plate, the favourite for the Melbourne Cup, the best 2000-metre weight-for-age horse in the country, so I’m looking forward to seeing how he runs against them,” McEvoy said. “I think he will run really well. We don’t expect him to win, but he’s in great order and deserves his chance.”
Connections briefly considered skipping the Turnbull and going straight to the Caulfield Cup, but opted to follow history with recent Cup winners like Incentivise and Verry Elleegant using the Turnbull as their launching pad.
“My heart says it would have been fine for him, but a month between runs into a high-pressure race is a big risk. The Turnbull is a proven path and that’s why we’re running,” McEvoy said.
Punters eyeing Half Yours in the Turnbull Stakes or Caulfield Cup can secure the best odds via Australia’s most trusted betting sites and leading online bookmakers.