Half Yours leaves it late

Promising staying prospect Half Yours gave jockey Harry Coffey a tough ride before winning at Seymour on Tuesday, April 15.

After settling at the tail in the field of six, Half Yours did a lot wrong before scoring a neck win in the G D & S L O’Sullivan Builders Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m).

Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, the four-year-old was backed from $1.80 into $1.60 favourite but his supporters had concerns before he reached the winning post first.

Half Yous relaxed early to settle back at the tail of the field but took hard riding from Coffey to wind up and gather in the leaders.

When the gelding loomed up, he felt the job was done and started to hang in forcing the jockey to straighten him.

On the line, he did enough to win from Morrissette ($10) with Fly Lie ($8.50), three lengths away third.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy said Half Yours would be even better over more ground.

“It was a bit of a strange watch,” McEvoy said.

“He was under pressure a long way out.

“He knuckled down. When horses make a run from a long way out, like that, second up, they can spit the dummy, but he got the job done.

“He will certainly be better over further.

“I thought he would have held a closer spot but he wasn’t that interested early on, but he did relax for Harry (Coffey).

“We will take him through his grades and step him up in trip. He is a nice horse, and we expect him to go on with it.”

Winning jockey Harry Coffey said Half Yours was definitely a horse with potential but was still maturing.

“He was a difficult ride,” Coffey said.

“He wasn’t concentrating at all.

“For some reason he wanted to hang in behind runners at about the 800.

“I’ve got a lot of faith in him, he gives you a lovely feel, but he was giving me absolutely nothing today.

“I had to pull him out, expose him and get stuck into him with my feet, get some traction and get going.

“He loomed up to them with ease, then he switched off again and wanted to duck around.

“It wasn’t easy, but he was always going to get the job done.

“He showed plenty of green signs so there is plenty of improvement there.

“He will want ground, he is still a big baby.