Tony McEvoy recognises the challenge awaiting Half Yours in this Saturday’s Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick, yet the trainer remains delighted with his stable standout prior to his comeback to the track.
The five-year-old is set to race for the initial occasion since achieving the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double at Flemington on November 4, facing rivals such as Jimmysstar, Giga Kick, Fangirl, Briasa and Angel Capital in the $1.5 million contest over 1400 metres.
This marks Half Yours’ initial appearance over that distance since March 19 last year, where he was defeated by Tumbling in a benchmark 64 at Sandown, though he spent the rest of 2025 establishing himself as a staying standout, with McEvoy noting that his preparation has focused on a crisp first-up performance.
“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.”
After the All Aged Stakes, Half Yours is bound for the $500,000 Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on May 9, followed by the $1m Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) a fortnight on and the $1.2 million Group 2 Q22 (2200m) on June 13.
This represents a weight-for-age campaign, and McEvoy along with co-trainer son Calvin are eager to assess his suitability, as his route to defending the Melbourne Cup may feature the 2040m Cox Plate, set this year at Flemington.
“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.”
Half Yours numbers among 19 entries for the All Aged Stakes, one of two Group 1s scheduled at Randwick this Saturday alongside the $1m Champagne Stakes (1600m), featuring ATC Sires’ winner Campione D’Italia.
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