Half Yours faces crucial Turnbull Stakes test
Tony McEvoy is looking to the Turnbull Stakes to provide definitive answers about his stable star, Half Yours.
The trainer wants to see the horse, a winner of last year's Cups double, confirm his status as a genuine Cox Plate contender this Saturday at Flemington.
Sir Delius, Birdman, and Aeliana, currently leading the Cox Plate betting, are expected to be among Half Yours' rivals in the 2000-metre Turnbull. McEvoy considers this race the perfect opportunity for Half Yours to prove he can measure up against the best.
"That's what we're hoping and that's what his work's telling us," McEvoy commented.
"The Turnbull is in the fork in the road for him.
"I don't want to run him in a Cox Plate if he can't win a Cox Plate, but if he matches it with them in the Turnbull, he'll go to the Cox Plate."
The alternative path for Half Yours, following Saturday's run, is the $6 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m). He was victorious in this race last year and will carry 57.5kg this year.
Half Yours has not claimed victory since last year's Melbourne Cup. His sole start this preparation was a sixth-place finish in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on September 12, where he was noted as the sectional star of the race.
He finished 4.65 lengths behind the winner, Sheza Alibi, but was only three-quarters-of-a-length off Sir Delius, who finished first in the Makybe Diva Stakes and is slated to compete in the Turnbull Stakes.
In the Makybe Diva Stakes, Half Yours started from barrier 10, continuing a sequence of wide draws. McEvoy is particularly hopeful for a better draw this week.
"He hasn't drawn a gate for a long time and we've been forced to go back," he said.
"He can sit three or four lengths closer in a race, if we draw well. He's due to draw a gate.
"He's got to tick the 2000-metre box at this level. He's an elite stayer, but we've kept him nice and sharp with just that one mile race coming into this and I think he'll run really well."
With the Turnbull Stakes approaching, many are checking the latest racing odds with online bookmakers.
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