Half Yours has strengthened his claim for the $5 million Caulfield Cup, with Racing Victoria issuing the co-favourite a 1.5kg penalty for his emphatic victory in Saturday’s Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained stayer will now carry 52.5kg in next month’s feature after producing a dominant 3-½ length win over Berkshire Breeze, a performance chief handicapper David Hegan said warranted recognition in the weights. “The effortless and dominant performance had to be reflected,” Hegan explained.
That victory also earned Half Yours automatic exemption from the Caulfield Cup ballot, making him the fourth horse to do so this year after Bankers Choice (Mornington Cup), Kovalica (Q22) and Underwood Stakes winner Sir Delius.
Half Yours has since firmed to $6 equal favouritism for the Cup, joining Chris Waller’s Buckaroo, runner-up to Sir Delius in the Underwood. Buckaroo has been assigned the joint topweight of 59kg alongside Light Infantry Man.
With his ballot secured and his handicap confirmed, Half Yours now looms as one of the key runners in this year’s Caulfield Cup. For punters looking to get behind him, the best odds are available through Australia’s leading betting sites.