Caulfield Cup victory

Half Yours continued his rocket rise in the echelon of Australia’s top stayers with a powerful win in the Group 1 $5 million Sportsbet Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday, October 18.

Purchased online for $305,000 by trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy after a maiden win at Geelong, Half Yours has justified the purchase with seven wins from just 14 starts taking his stakes to more than$3.8 million.

The win was achieved by a trainer-jockey combination so successful in South Australia before moving to Victoria.

Given a perfect ride by Jamie Melham, the five-year-old, heavily backed from $2.80 into $2.50 favourite, drew clear late to win by a half-length from River Of Stars ($91) with Valiant King ($26), a length away third.

After beginning nicely, Half Yours drifted back to midfield during the early stages and the gelding was surrounded by many runners with 800 metres left to travel.

Melham worked him into clear going turning for home and Half Yours extended to win strongly.

Winning trainer Tony McEvoy said Half Yours had made incredible improvement capped by today’s Caulfield Cup.

“It is incredible how far he has come,” McEvoy said.

“He is a special horse and has just thrived on the preparation and has got bigger and stronger and better.

“Today, he looked like he had arrived as a stayer, it was very exciting.”

Co-trainer Calvin McEvoy was overcome with the emotion of Half Your’s Caulfield Cup win.

“I don’t know what to say,” he said.

“Tony had supported me and given me the opportunity in this great game.”

Tony McEvoy said the win meant so much for the family.

“We work bloody hard in this game and it is lovely when it comes off.

“It is really special to share this win with Cal.

“It has been a joy for him to want to follow me in the business.

“He has taken the training to another level and added an immense arm to the business with technology and that has made us better.”

Winning jockey Jamie Melham said Half Yours was a star stayer and his career was still on an upward path.

“I didn’t think about the race for two days determined to come out and give him a perfect ride because I knew he was the best horse in the race,” Melham said.

“Everything worked out perfectly for him then he had to dig deep.

“He is an absolute superstar horse and what Tony and Calvin have done with him, they have made him a professional racehorse.

“I have had an incredible career and won 17 Group 1s now but this major had eluded me until today.

“I would like to win a Melbourne Cup, and this horse will run the trip out.”