Half Yours luck is in ahead of this years Melbourne Cup 2025

For Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Half Yours has been the kind of horse that can change a stable’s trajectory, and the gelding now finds himself the favourite for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. A favourable barrier draw of eight has only strengthened his position, with Jamie Melham to ride in the $10 million staying showcase.

His Caulfield Cup victory was achieved with a similarly kind map, and with wet weather on the radar, conditions appear to be trending firmly in his direction once again.

“Things are just falling into place beautifully,” Tony Mcevoy said.

“You need momentum and we’ve got the momentum at the moment.

“The horse seems fabulous and what a joy for us now to have the beautiful gate where Jamie can just switch him off and relax and enjoy the race.”

Half Yours’ ascent began after the McEvoys purchased him for $305,000 from the Inglis Digital dispersal of the Colin McKenna estate last spring. After finishing second at Sandown in his first start for the new yard, he steadily built through the grades.

A win at Seymour in April was followed by his Queensland raid, where he emphatically captured the Listed Caloundra Cup. A Sydney stopover preceded his breakthrough in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes, and his encouraging run in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes confirmed he was primed for the Caulfield Cup.

The victory there as a $2.50 favourite represented one of the most significant wins of McEvoy’s career.

“He’s a horse every stable needs,” McEvoy said.

“I think I’ve been perceived as a two-year-old speed trainer, and probably a fillies trainer, and that’s mainly because I haven’t been able to afford buying the colts.

“But having this horse win a staying race, a major, is going to let people say, ‘well, they can train to stayer’.

“We’ve got a lot of speed in our stable, we haven’t got many staying horses, but I love training stayers – I’ve trained to Grand National winner.

“I’m hoping that this will open a few doors and get us a few more either imports or locals.

“This horse is a home-grown horse, which is also very special. Hopefully it’ll give us more runners in these big races, year on year.”

The McEvoy name has featured in many major spring campaigns, including Fields Of Omagh’s 2003 Cox Plate and several revered Lindsay Park campaigns.

“I was there with Beldale Ball, At Talaq and Jeune, I was in Adelaide running the Adelaide operation in those days,” McEvoy said.

“It was magnificent. It just lifted everybody. It’s a life changing race, I’ve had involvement in it and it’s been special.

“I’ve had a few runners in it. I got close up and ran fifth one year, which was very good, but I’d like to go a little bit better this year.”

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