Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours will bypass the Melbourne Autumn carnival with connections opting to give him a longer break after a big 2025.
Co-Trainer Tony McEvoy stating to Racing.com’s Nick Noonan on the Raceday Live coverage that the chestnut gelding is enjoying his time in the paddock. ‘He’s loving his time; he’s spelling well. It’s the first time we’ve spelled him, and he’s put some nice cover on. He’ll get another three to four weeks in the paddock before getting ready for his next prep’.
McEvoy suggested that his campaign will be geared around a Queensland winter prep and kick off at the back end of the Sydney Autumn Carnival in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes over 1400m on April 18 before heading to the Sunshine State for three weight-for-age races in Brisbane including the Doomben Cup. ‘He’ll probably go to Sydney for the All Aged and then to Brisbane for the Hollindale Stakes, Doomben Cup and Q22, before getting ready for another Melbourne Spring’.
HALF YOURS 2026 CAMPAIGN
- All Aged Stakes (1400m, G1, WFA) – April 18
- Hollindale Stakes (1800m, G2, WFA)- May 9
- Doomben Cup (2000m, G1, WFA)- May 23
- The Q22 (2200m, G2, WFA)- June 13
The past 3 winners of the Melbourne Cup have used the Brisbane Winter Carnival as a lead into the Spring with Without A Fight coming through the Q22 in 2023, Knight’s Choice using the same race in 2024 and Half Yours winning the Caloundra Cup prior to taking the prestigious Cups’ double this year.
HALF YOURS DESTROYS THEM IN THE CALOUNDRA CUP 😈😈
He is a stayer on the rise! Could we be seeing him in the big ones come Spring 🤔@AshMorgan6 @mcevoymitchell pic.twitter.com/FPqChrozF3
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 5, 2025
Of course, Incentivise is another top stayer in recent years to use the Brisbane Carnival before going on to Spring success in 2021.
The decision from the McEvoy stable and ownership group of Half Yours to give him a longer break means he won’t be participating in feature Autumn races like the Australian Cup, Tancred Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
