Tony McEvoy appreciates the stiff competition ahead for Half Yours during Saturday’s Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick, though the trainer couldn’t feel more content with his stable’s top performer going into the return.
Returning to competition for the first instance post the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double accomplished at Flemington November 4, the five-year-old confronts challengers Jimmysstar, Giga Kick, Fangirl, Briasa and Angel Capital in the $1.5 million 1400-metre race.
Half Yours’ prior run at 1400 metres occurred March 19 last year, beaten by Tumbling in Sandown’s benchmark 64, but he cemented his staying credentials across late 2025, with McEvoy revealing the training regime aims for a brisk first-up showing.
“We’re training him a bit different at the moment; we’re keeping him really sharp to run in this 1400-metre race,” McEvoy said on Monday morning.
“He’s telling us that he’s loving it. He’s bouncing off the track, he’s eating maximum feed and I think he looks very, very well.
“He had his second trial under Jamie Melham at Flemington last week and we were all pretty with him and Jamie said he felt great.
“We’re really pleased. He’s travelled up to Sydney and he’s settled into Rosehill really well. He’s just going to have a sharp little piece of work tomorrow and then he’s going to run in the All Aged.
“It’s probably a hurdle too far for him to win that race if you look at who’s running, but it’s good kick off for him and it sets him up nicely.”
Half Yours proceeds to the $500,000 Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on May 9 following the All Aged Stakes, succeeded by $1m Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) fourteen days hence and $1.2 million Group 2 Q22 (2200m) June 13.
The campaign is weight-for-age oriented, keen for McEvoy and co-trainer Calvin to evaluate his fit, eyeing Melbourne Cup protection that could involve Flemington’s 2040m Cox Plate this year.
“That’s where he has to be now, weight-for-age, and he’s got to prove to us that he’s a weight-for-age horse,” McEvoy said.
“But, I must say, his run in the Turnbull was pretty good, finishing alongside Via Sistina, and from that moment I thought this horse is going to be able to handle himself at weight-for-age level.”
With 19 entries, the All Aged Stakes shares billing as one of Randwick’s two Group 1s Saturday with the $1m Champagne Stakes (1600m), headlined by Campione D’Italia, ATC Sires’ winner.
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