A late decision to head south proved inspired as Half Yours captured the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) for Tony and Calvin McEvoy on Saturday.

Initially aimed at Sydney’s Metropolitan (2400m), the stayer’s campaign took a turn when he was made an emergency for the Kingston Town Stakes. Instead, the McEvoys sent him to Melbourne, where victory in the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) earned him a Cup berth.

With Jamie Melham aboard, the $2.50 favourite fought hard to score by a long neck from River Of Stars ($91), with Valiant King ($26) a length away third.

“This is why we do it, to have a runner in these,” Tony McEvoy said.
“They’re bloody hard to win, and that was incredible.”

Melham, claiming her first major after 17 Group 1 victories, was emotional post-race.
“Just saying Caulfield Cup is going to make me cry,” she said.
“Now I want more, maybe a Melbourne Cup and this horse is going to run that trip out.”

Half Yours has now firmed to $3.50 favourite for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4.