Co-trainer Calvin McEvoy believes reigning Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours was never given the opportunity to showcase his best in Saturday’s $1.2 million The Q22 at Eagle Farm.
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained gelding finished fourth after settling back in a race that developed into a tactical affair following the scratching of star mare Pride Of Jenni.
With no obvious leader in the field, jockey Mark Zahra was able to dictate terms aboard Royal Supremacy, controlling the race from the front before sprinting clear to score by 3.24 lengths.
McEvoy said the lack of pressure throughout the race left those settling off the speed with little chance of making ground.
“(A) $1.2 million race, and it’s a complete non-event,” McEvoy told SEN on Monday.
“With Pride Of Jenni being scratched, the race changed complexion. I didn’t really know where the speed was going to be.
“I certainly didn’t expect there to be absolutely no speed at all. It was quite embarrassing, from my point of view, that all of the jockeys let Mark get away with what he got away with.
“I don’t think Winx could have run him down. It’s mathematically impossible when you’re that far off a lead horse that’s running such slow sectionals.
“It’s racing, there’s not much you can do from the grandstand. But I think he was probably there to be running a big race and he didn’t get that opportunity.”
Half Yours has now finished close-up behind the placegetters in each of his three Queensland starts this preparation, including the Group 1 Doomben Cup and The Q22.
Despite the recent defeats, McEvoy remains convinced the lightly raced five-year-old can measure up at the highest level during the spring.
The stable believes Half Yours is capable of being more than a quality handicap horse and can continue to be competitive in weight-for-age company as his career progresses.
With another preparation under his belt and a likely spring campaign ahead, connections remain optimistic the gelding can add further elite-level success to his résumé.
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