Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours returns for Makybe Diva Stakes
The reigning Melbourne Cup winner, Half Yours, is set to make its comeback in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.
Trainer Tony McEvoy has confirmed that the stayer is being pointed towards another tilt at the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.
Jamie Melham, the jockey who created history by becoming the first female to win both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, will partner the stayer in its initial run over 1600 metres at weight-for-age this Saturday.
There were questions raised about Half Yours's performance last campaign, which included a first-up run in Sydney followed by three starts in Queensland. The gelding's final outing in that state was a fourth-place finish in the Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm in June.
Half Yours recuperated in Queensland before rejoining the McEvoy team at Flemington early last month to begin preparations for its return to racing.
Following two jump-outs at Flemington, Half Yours is deemed ready for its first start. Tony McEvoy commented that while the most recent trial, a fourth over 1000 metres, might not have appeared impressive to onlookers, the stable was satisfied with the result.
"I was really happy with his trial," McEvoy remarked.
"If you put him in a 1000-metre race, he would get completely run off his legs and they ran it like a race.
"It wasn't like a normal trial and he got chasing.
"They were also trials at Flemington where they finish on a bend, so it's very hard for horses to make ground on a bend.
"Whilst it didn't look impressive, I thought he moved well, trialled nicely and the horse is telling us he's going very well while his coat is coming better by the day.
"All the data that we collate on him is normal.
"He certainly hasn't gone backwards."
Post-Saturday's race, Half Yours is expected to proceed to the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 3. This is the same race where he finished fourth last year before claiming the Caulfield Cup.
The Group 1 Cox Plate, this year to be held at Flemington, will conclude Half Yours's campaign leading up to the Melbourne Cup.
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