McEvoy confident in Half Yours for All Aged Stakes return

Trainer Tony McEvoy is aware of the significant task facing Half Yours in Saturday's Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick, but he expresses utmost satisfaction with his key stablemate before the horse's racing resumption.

For the first time since securing the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double at Flemington on November 4, the five-year-old will compete against top contenders including Jimmysstar, Giga Kick, Fangirl, Briasa and Angel Capital in the $1.5 million 1400-metre feature.

Half Yours last raced at 1400 metres on March 19 last year, finishing behind Tumbling in a benchmark 64 event at Sandown, yet he solidified his status as a staying champion through the latter part of 2025, as McEvoy explained that the preparation emphasises a lively first-up effort.

"We're training him a bit different at the moment; we're keeping him really sharp to run in this 1400-metre race," McEvoy said on Monday morning.

"He's telling us that he's loving it. He's bouncing off the track, he's eating maximum feed and I think he looks very, very well.

"He had his second trial under Jamie Melham at Flemington last week and we were all pretty with him and Jamie said he felt great.

"We're really pleased. He's travelled up to Sydney and he's settled into Rosehill really well. He's just going to have a sharp little piece of work tomorrow and then he's going to run in the All Aged.

"It's probably a hurdle too far for him to win that race if you look at who's running, but it's good kick off for him and it sets him up nicely."

Post All Aged Stakes, the plan sends Half Yours to the $500,000 Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on May 9, then the $1m Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) two weeks after, and the $1.2 million Group 2 Q22 (2200m) on June 13.

Undertaking a weight-for-age schedule, McEvoy and co-trainer Calvin are interested in observing his adaptation, with a probable Melbourne Cup defence incorporating the 2040m Cox Plate to be held at Flemington this season.

"That's where he has to be now, weight-for-age, and he's got to prove to us that he's a weight-for-age horse," McEvoy said.

"But, I must say, his run in the Turnbull was pretty good, finishing alongside Via Sistina, and from that moment I thought this horse is going to be able to handle himself at weight-for-age level."

Among 19 nominations for the All Aged Stakes, this Group 1 joins the $1m Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, led by ATC Sires' victor Campione D'Italia.

Visit the online bookmakers to find the best betting markets for the race in the All Aged Stakes.