Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours begins 2026 campaign

Despite being only in the early phase of his preparation, Half Yours has already impressed Calvin McEvoy as he builds toward another ambitious campaign in 2026.

The five-year-old son of St Jean, who surged from provincial Benchmark 64 grade in April to claim Melbourne Cup honours in November, has been back under saddle for a fortnight.

After completing a demanding eight-month, 10-start campaign with Calvin and Tony McEvoy, Half Yours enjoyed close to two months off, a break that has left him thriving.

“The 23rd of December he came back in, so he’s just in the very early stages of the preparation, but he’s having a light canter and he looks terrific,” McEvoy said.

“We’re very pleased with him. He had 7.5 weeks off and he looks a different horse.

“He’s put a lovely cover on and softened up and there’s plenty of work with.”

Half Yours began his career under Ciaron Maher before joining the McEvoy operation late in 2024, making his first start for the stable when third in a 1400-metre Benchmark 64 at Sandown on March 19.

A Seymour Benchmark 64 victory followed at his next run, before trips to Sydney and Queensland culminated in a dominant 4½-length success in the Listed Caloundra Cup during the Winter Carnival.

He remained in work through winter and carried that form into spring, proving a dominant handicapper by winning the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) ahead of Group 1 victories in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the Melbourne Cup (3200m).

McEvoy indicated Half Yours is expected to resume in the $1.5 million Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 18 before returning north, with the Cox Plate at Flemington likely to play a role in his preparation for another Melbourne Cup campaign.

The post Half Yours builds into 2026 campaign first appeared on Just Horse Racing.