Father-and-son training partners Tony and Calvin McEvoy will have a starter in the Caulfield Cup after Half Yours strolled to an easy win at Caulfield.
Success in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) on Saturday has provided Half Yours with a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18.
Sent out the $2.60 favourite under Jamie Melham, Half Yours scored a 3-½ length win from Berkshire Breeze ($12) with Grand Pierro ($71) a head away third.
The McEvoys had planned to run Half Yours in Sydney on Saturday and aim him at the Group 1 The Metropolitan at Randwick on October 4, but the gelding was in danger of not making the field as he was an emergency.
Half Yours was the first emergency for the Naturalism Stakes, but the McEvoys decided on switching the gelding south where he will stay for the remainder of the carnival.
“That was the big question through the week,” Calvin McEvoy said.
“Dad and I, we tossed up what to do. He was in Sydney, as we always had planned to run him in Kingston Town and at the last minute decided to accept here.
“We always knew that if he came down here to Melbourne and won, he’d probably stay here.
“Look, he’s in the Caulfield Cup now, he’s proven on a good track, so I think we’ll be all systems go to the Caulfield Cup.”
McEvoy said Half Yours was purchased via an Inglis digital sale after being seen by racing manager Rayan Moore.
“He was bred by Janice and the late Col McKenna and was very well-handled early by the Maher team,” McEvoy said.
“We loved the profile, he had a good rating, and we really wanted to get him.
“We didn’t think we’d have to spend the money we did but thank God we did. Ever since we’ve had him, he’s been straightforward, been a lovely horse to train, and we haven’t got to his ceiling yet.”
Half Yours wintered in Queensland after winning the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) before making his way down to Sydney.
McEvoy said Half Yours was a fit galloper and would have no problem handling 2400m at this stage of his preparation.
“Another run (before the Cup) won’t do him any harm,” McEvoy said.
“I feel like he could go straight to a mile-and-a-half now would be no problem. We’ll get through today, we’ll weigh up what we do, whether it’s one more run, or a trial, I don’t know, but it’s bloody exciting for the whole team.”
