Good gate for Half Yours in open 2025 Melbourne Cup field
Tony McEvoy moved a step closer to completing one of racing’s ultimate achievements after receiving a favourable draw for his Melbourne Cup contender Half Yours.
The Caulfield Cup champion has secured barrier eight for Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup, and remains the $6 favourite to win the 3200-metre showpiece.
Half Yours tops the Melbourne Cup betting in a capacity field that features several other well-supported chances.
“What this barrier allows us to do is not make any decisions,” McEvoy said.
“At Caulfield we were chasing him a little bit to ride Caulfield, but with Flemington you can be patient.
“If you draw 20 or 24, you’re out there but in the back quarter. We can be midfield and be patient and that is the beautiful thing about a good barrier.”
Elsewhere, Buckaroo came up with gate 12 for Chris Waller, while his stablemates Valiant King, River Of Stars and More Felons drew 10, 14 and 23 respectively.
Waller assistant Charlie Duckworth said they were pleased to commit to the Cup path.
“It is a great result as you take a risk when you’ve got a genuine weight-for-age contender,” Duckworth said.
“We could go to other options but we’re rolling the dice and going in the Melbourne Cup.
“Hopefully he can get a more economical run than last year.”
Racing analyst Trent Crebbin said many of the key runners would be satisfied with their draws.
“Especially the Waller pair of Buckaroo and Valiant King,” Crebbin said.
“Buckaroo covered far too much ground from 20 last year and 12. This year’s race looks more suitable.
“Top jockeys Mark Zahra (Al Riffa) and James McDonald (Meydaan) will have decisions to make from 19 and 22 respectively, especially with nearly a full minute of racing before they reach the first bend.”
Valiant King is a $7 second favourite, Buckaroo sits at $8, and international galloper Al Riffa is next in line at $9.
Ciaron Maher will saddle three Cup hopes, including Smokin Romans, who will carry 54kg after approval was granted for jockey Ben Melham to ride half a kilo above.
More Racing News
Thrilling Scone Cup success for in-form Hellsing
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Hellsing has entered excellent shape and notched his finest victory yet in the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) held at Scone on Friday.On his 10th run in a preparation exceeding six months, Hellsing is thriving more than ever, building on a Royal Randwick...
Trainer Moloney sees ongoing enhancement in Hearcomesthestar
Improvement has marked every preparation, and John Moloney, the trainer, expects additional development from Hearcomesthestar in her upcoming appearance at Flemington.From 28 races, Hearcomesthestar has notched six wins and eight places, but Stakes grade has proven challenging for her.The approaching six-year-old earned a Listed placing at Geelong earlier this year,...
Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford
Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.Nichole Searle sampled...
Scone's Luskin Star Stakes sees Estadio Mestalla with tough weight
Trainer Joe Pride questions the two-kilo advantage given to a Group 1 winner over Estadio Mestalla in the Luskin Star Stakes, but trusts the steady gelding to deliver full commitment.At seven years old, he notched his top triumph in the prior year's Listed Winter Stakes (1100m) and must shoulder 61kg...
Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's...
Flemington awaits Concord Connie's next bold move
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield hopes her talented filly Concord Connie can replicate her recent feat before entertaining grander aspirations.In her third race appearance at Flemington on Anzac Day, Concord Connie notched a breathtaking win by six lengths in sharp time.This Saturday, the filly heads back to Flemington to compete against the...
Dark Jewel Classic in sights for Harlem Queen
While Harlem Queen didn't sustain her early promise from age three, trainer Nathan Doyle feels confident after her trouble-free lead-up that she might restore reliable results.She returns Saturday in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) held at Scone, where despite preferring stamina tests ahead, barrier five positions her well for Doyle's...
Flemington run to decide Different Gravy's Queensland Derby chances
At Flemington, Different Gravy will put his Queensland Derby dreams to the test in upcoming action.Following a Listed triumph over 1800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year, trainer Henry Dwyer fixed his focus on the northern Derby.The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm scheduled for May...
Abounding's scratch lets Napoleonic into Doomben 10,000 lineup
Confirmation has arrived that Napoleonic will join the Doomben 10,000 field, following Abounding's removal which opened the door for the colt in the elite Group 1 dash.Team members experienced a stressful seven days after the three-year-old earned second emergency status for the $1.5 million event, as reserve Beadman claimed a...
Snowden's stable loaded with top sprinters for feature clashes
Boasting a stable full of high-caliber sprinters primed for black-type action, trainer Peter Snowden enjoys the luxury of picking and choosing among several prestigious races.Just a couple of weeks earlier, Zealously claimed victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), followed by King Of Roseau and Beadman grabbing interstate stakes wins...