Tony and Calvin McEvoy, the training team, are well acquainted with the progress a horse can achieve.

Last year, after spending the winter in the Queensland warmth, Half Yours returned to claim the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double.

Half Yours is again heading for the Melbourne Cup, with a path through the Cox Plate, although the father-and-son training team nominated him for the Caulfield Cup when nominations closed earlier in the week.

Also listed among the Caulfield Cup nominations from the McEvoy stable is Nearco Frod, who will be looking to extend his winning run to four in the McMahon’s Dairy Handicap (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday.

Nearco Frod did not receive the same ‘winter excursion’ to the Sunshine Coast for warmth; instead, he endured Melbourne’s cold, achieving wins on heavy tracks at Sandown on July 1 and July 15 before scoring over 2520m at Flemington on August 1.

Tony McEvoy commented that a start in the Caulfield Cup was the aspiration, but Nearco Frod had not yet qualified for the race.

The Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3 may be a more realistic target, given the plan is to head to the Group 3 The Archer (2500m) at Flemington on September 12 after Saturday’s engagement.

The Archer presents the winner with a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup.

“He’ll go to The Archer and then we’ll reassess where we are then,” McEvoy said.

“The Caulfield Cup, it is a big step, but we’ve put him in and he’s a handy little stayer.”

“We saw last year where they can come from, but at this stage we’re thinking Saturday and then into The Archer.”

Craig Williams is set to ride Nearco Frod on Saturday, having guided the stayer to consecutive wins at Sandown.

Nearco Frod provided Blake Shinn with his first victory since returning from injury when successful at Flemington in his most recent start. The Australian betting sites will be offering competitive Caulfield Cup markets.