Tony and Calvin McEvoy were thrown a curveball with Half Yours on Saturday, but when the smart stayer hit it out of the ballpark, it changed spring plans from Sydney to Melbourne.
The main problem with Half Yours is locking in a jockey for the Caulfield Cup after his Naturalism romp, with Jamie Melham to have first refusal in the Caulfield Cup.
However, she has not committed yet with the prospect of a ride in The Everest on the same afternoon, possibly on Godolphin filly Tempted.
In a twist of fate, Ash Morgan, who was dumped from Private Harry after he was beaten in Saturday’s The Shorts, could get the Caulfield Cup ride after being in the saddle for his Caloundra Cup victory.
“He has a history with the horse, but I don’t think we will struggle for a rider,” McEvoy said. “It is a pity that racing can’t get together, so we don’t have a clash like that.”
The original plan had the Caloundra Cup winner chasing next month’s Metropolitan at Randwick.
Naturalism Stakes | Half Yours
Half Yours spears himself into Caulfield Cup contention, romping away with the Naturalism Stakes 💫
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/MEH2qjVYTA— Racing.com (@Racing) September 20, 2025
“We were going to the Kingston Town Stakes and then the Metrop, until he was an emergency and found out we would get a run in the Naturalism [Stakes],” McEvoy said.
“It was a curveball we didn’t see coming, but we switched down here and now we are in the Caulfield Cup as one of the favourites for a $5 million race.”
Half Yours was given a 1-1/2 kilogram penalty in the Caulfield Cup, where he is now exempt from the ballot, to have 52.5kg, while he got 2-1/2 kilos in the Metropolitan, which also lifted him to 52.5kg.
“I was a bit shocked when I saw that penalty,” McEvoy said of the additional weight in the Metropolitan. “It made the decision for us.”
Chris Waller’s Newcastle Cup winner Soul Of Spain was given a half-kilogram penalty in the Metropolitan, taking him to 50.5kg.
Any chance of Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner Sepals coming to Sydney for the Epsom was stopped when it was given a three-kilogram penalty, while Headley Grange got a kilogram for his Cameron Handicap win at Newcastle, which has him on 53.5kg.
“It is fair and he will probably have a crack at the Epsom, especially if there is any rain around,” trainer Joe Pride said. “A race like the Alan Brown over 1400m is also there for him a week later.”
