Melbourne Cup win
Trainer Tony McEvoy capped a 50-year involvement in the thoroughbred industry with the ultimate prize when Half Yours scored a brilliant win in the $10 million Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday, November 4.
The win was extra special as he shared the training success with his son Calvin.
To complete the trifecta, the winner was ridden by Jamie Melham who has been a key in the success of the McEvoys for the past 15 years.
McEvoy, who grew up riding horses at his home in Streaky Bay on South Australia’s West Coast, had watched great friends the Hayes family claim three Melbourne Cups and only dared to dream he would win one himself.
Half Yours became the 13th horse in the 165-year Melbourne Cup history to win the double with the Caulfield Cup.
The five-year-old gelding raced away over the final 200 metres to win by 2-3/4 lengths from Goodie Two Shoes ($41) with Middle Earth ($26), 1-1/2 lengths away third.
Melham had Half Yours away well and settled midfield early and in the run to the home turn.
The jockey elected to gamble taking inside runs between rivals up the home straight and it paid off with Half Yours dashing through and scoring in brilliant fashion.
Winning trainer Tony McEvoy was overcome with emotion.
“What a joy, what a joy,” McEvoy said.
“This is our great race, and it is so special to win it.
“It is an incredible moment. From the time we grew up the Melbourne Cup was everything.
“It has been a great race for the McEvoy family with Kerrin winning it three times, my brother Philip owned a horse which ran second and now for me to be able to win it, for us to win it, is just amazing.
“I actually lost sight of him midrace when the leader went out with that big break.
“Then I caught him ducking back to the inside – and wow – what a thrill.
“What a horse he is and what a joy for us.”
McEvoy remembered when the stable purchase Half Yours at an online auction for $305,000.
“I was trying to get Calvin (McEvoy) and Rayan (Moore) to stop because I thought it was enough money, but they pushed hard and kept going.
“We had no owner for him; we specked him and what a good decision that was.
“This horse, the journey we had him on to get to this race, he is a very special horse.
“Great people in him, these people are friends of ours and they are friends for life – we have won the great race, it is amazing.”
McEvoy reminisced on his racing journey.
“You don’t get anywhere without opportunities, people helping you.
“I was part of that great Hayes family for so many years, three Melbourne Cups and never thought I would be standing here with one of my own.”
For co- winning trainer Calvin McEvoy it was a perfect start to a big month.
Capturing Australia’s most famous race at his first attempt with Half Yours, then at the end of the month he will marry fiancée Demi Ryan.
“This is unbelievable,” McEvoy said.
“Wow – what a horse.
“He has continued to raise the bar – I have got no words.
“It has been amazing and such a big team effort.
“What an amazing horse – unbelievable.”
Winning jockey Jamie Melham created her own history in winning the Melbourne Cup on Half Yours.
She is the first female jockey to land the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double and is only the second of her gender to win the Melbourne Cup following on from Michelle Payne, 10 years earlier. Ironically, her first race winner was recorded in McEvoy’s home town, Streaky Bay.
“I have had an amazing year,” Melham said.
“Got married, had some really amazing days on the track but nothing compares to what I am feeling right now.
“I’ve got Col (McKenna) up there, he bred this horse.
“You don’t even dream of this day,” Melham said.
“You think about it, but you don’t think you will ever win the Melbourne Cup.
“All week I have been thinking about it, been excited but no words can describe what I felt going past the post, and am still feeling, I’m speechless.
“This is what we do it for.
“This is why we wake up at 4 o’clock, stupid o’clock every morning, work our backsides off to come to these big days and win in front of the world.
“To go down in history, winning the Melbourne Cup – what the hell just happened.
“You play out the race in your head 20 or 30 times how you want the race to happen.
“I wanted to get to the rails as close as I could, but we got into a nice enough spot.
“Ben (husband Ben Melham) told me to let the first wave go and that is exactly what I did.
“I cut through and my horse pulled me through the gaps – when a horse is going that well it just takes you where you need to go.
“Tony and Calvin have got this horse so fit, there was definitely no question about him running out the trip.
“The McEvoys have been an incredible part of my career.
“My first ever Flemington winner was on Dollar For Dollar for them and now I have won the Melbourne Cup for them.
“A big shout out to my grandpa up there (heaven). He watched the Caulfield Cup, that was the last thing he did then passed away, now he is up in heaven watching me.
“I can’t go to his funeral on Thursday but I’m sure he would rather me be here and ride some more winners for him.”