Half Yours reigns supreme in the 2025 Caulfield Cup

In racing, timing is everything — and for Half Yours, a crucial change of plans turned out to be a masterstroke. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained stayer stormed to victory in Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), delivering one of the most memorable wins of the spring.

Initially bound for Sydney’s Metropolitan (2400m), Half Yours was made an emergency for the Kingston Town Stakes and instead rerouted to Melbourne to contest the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield. That switch earned him a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup — a race he would go on to win in thrilling fashion.

Ridden by Jamie Melham, the $2.50 favourite settled beautifully before surging late to edge out River Of Stars ($91) by a long neck, with Valiant King ($26) another length away in third. It was a measured, patient ride and a breakthrough for Melham, who collected her first major trophy at Group 1 level despite having 16 elite wins already to her name.

“This is why we do it — for moments like this,” Tony McEvoy said. “These races are so hard to win. He’s come a long way in six months. Travelling to Queensland really helped him grow and mature into a true stayer.”

McEvoy, who started his career at Lindsay Park in the 1970s, said the win carried immense personal satisfaction. “When he walked into the paddock today, I thought to myself, ‘he’s arrived.’ He looked strong, composed, and ready for 2400m. He’s gone from a big raw horse to a professional stayer.”

Half Yours was initially trained by Ciaron Maher before being acquired on the advice of the McEvoys’ racing manager, Rayan Moore. Since then, the gelding has gone from strength to strength, peaking at precisely the right time. “When Adelaide River took off mid-race, I thought it might upset things,” McEvoy added. “But once he settled into rhythm, he did the rest. He’s just fabulous.”

For Melham, the win was emotional. “Just saying ‘Caulfield Cup’ makes me tear up,” she said. “I’ve had an amazing career and won a lot of Group 1s, but this one — one of the majors — it’s special. Now I want the next one — the Melbourne Cup. And this horse, I believe, will run the trip out.”

With his Caulfield triumph, Half Yours has soared to the top of Melbourne Cup (3200m) markets at $3.50, displacing Al Riffa ($6) and Valiant King ($11). For all the latest odds, futures betting, and exclusive bookmaker offers ahead of the Cup, visit Australia’s top betting sites.