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Half Yours is the sole Australian-bred stayer in Tuesday’s 2025 Melbourne Cup field chasing his spot in the history books after winning the Caulfield Cup at his latest. He has the punters’ confidence lining up as the favourite but will he salute and become just the 13th horse to complete the Spring Cups double?
The punters are rallying behind Half Yours who sits top of the markets for the 165th edition of the Group 1 $10 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) paying $7 through Ladbrokes.com.au.
Not only is he flying the flag for the locals as an Aussie-bred galloper in a field stacked with internationals, but he’s also building a compelling case for an historical win.
His staying credentials began to shine back in July when he blitzed the Caloundra Cup field over 2400m, putting 4.45 lengths on his rivals in a commanding display. That win may have come in lesser company, but it was the kind of performance that stamped him as a genuine spring contender.
He backed it up with a dominant Group 3 victory over 2000m at Caulfield, then proved his class with a strong fourth in the Turnbull Stakes — a race that didn’t suit him under set weights. But it was his Caulfield Cup triumph that truly elevated him, winning with authority despite the narrow margin and looking every bit in control throughout.
Now he steps up to the ultimate test: 3200m at Flemington. He rises half a kilo to 53kg, still a very manageable impost despite copping a 2kg penalty, and he gets ideal conditions with rain forecast — he’s proven on Soft going. Barrier eight is a dream draw, giving jockey Jamie Melham every chance to settle and strike.
Melham, who famously became the Caulfield Cup’s first female winning jockey, is now out to join Michelle Payne as the ladies to ride a Melbourne Cup winner to victory – and she is praying the forecasters are right for Melbourne Cup Day.
“I’m going to do the rain dance on Monday,” she told the ABC.
“We’re apparently getting a hell of a lot of rain, which is going to suit this horse.
“He loves it; he swims through it; he doesn’t need it, but he definitely appreciates it.”
The question remains: can he run the trip? Only 12 horses have completed the Caulfield–Melbourne Cup double since 1879, and while history isn’t on his side, Melham is adamant he’ll stay the distance.
“I learned a lot from him in the Caulfield Cup. I had to get going too soon, I think, for the horse,” Melham said.
“He made a good 500-600m run, and when I won on him in the Naturalism [Stakes], I only got out 300m before home, and he was very sharp.
“I think he’ll definitely get the trip if I can just find the rail, put him to sleep, and … let that first wave of horses get past me and just wait for the second crack at it.”
So, will Half Yours continue his dream spring and salute?
Read on for the pros and cons to backing this year’s favourite!
2025 Melbourne Cup Horse Form: No. 14 Half Yours
- Breeding: by ST JEAN (IRE) from LA GAZELLE
- Age/Gender: 5YO Gelding
- Trainers: Tony & Calvin McEvoy
- Jockey: Jamie Melham
- Weight: 53kg (includes 2kg penalty)
- Barrier: 8
- Owners: Kildalton Park Racing, Mr J B Biasin, Mr D J Canny, Mr G M Fox, Mrs G M Smith, Mr J M Simmons, Mr N B Smith, Mr P R Farley, Mr S M George, Terrace No 3, Mr A Guoga
- Career Summary: 14-7:3:0
- Prizemoney: $3,841,840
- Min/Max-Dist-Win: 1430/2400
- Firm: 0:0-0-0 Good: 8:3-2-0 Soft: 5:3-1-0 Heavy: 1:1-0-0 Synthetic: 0:0-0-0
- Last Start: 1st in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18, won by 0.46 lengths carrying 52.5kg
Half Yours enters the Melbourne Cup as the form horse of the spring, fresh off a stirring Caulfield Cup win — and for punters, he’s a genuine contender chasing history.
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14. Half Yours (8)
J: Jamie Melham53kg
15141T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy
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Why He’s a Top-Tier Threat
- Caulfield Cup Winner: Beat several key rivals last start and now aims to become the 13th horse to complete the Caulfield–Melbourne Cup double, following Without A Fight’s 2023 feat.
- Barrier Boost: Draws gate 8 — a prime position that offers tactical flexibility and has produced multiple Cup winners.
- Jockey Confidence: Jamie Melham sticks with the ride after making history in the Caulfield Cup. Her confidence and familiarity with the horse are major assets.
- Form Surge: He’s in a purple patch, progressing with every run and showing signs of untapped staying potential.
- Distance Profile: While untested at 3200m, his dominant Caloundra Cup win over 2400m suggests he’ll stay the trip.
- Handles Conditions: Proven on rain-affected ground, which could be crucial with showers forecast for Cup day.
- Upside: Still improving and looked to have more to give in his last Group 1 win — a rare trait this deep into the spring.
Challenges Ahead
- Weight Penalty: Carries 2kg more than in the Caulfield Cup, giving weight away to rivals who were closing fast late.
- Distance Test: The 3200m is always a query for horses yet to race over it — especially in a high-pressure field.
- Class Acid Test: The Cup is a different beast, and while he’s trending upward, he’ll need to stretch his brilliance to a new level.
- Favourites Flop: Favourites in Melbourne Cup betting have a poor record overall in the event with Fiorente ($7 in 2013) the last to salute for the punters.
Final Call
Half Yours has the form, the draw, and the confidence to be a major player. If he runs out the trip and handles the tempo, he’s a live winning chance and a strong Each Way play.
Verdict: Top 3 contender — genuine shot at the double.
| 14. Half Yours (8) J: Jamie Melham53kg 15141T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | ||
| 20. Goodie Two Shoes (20) J: W M Lordan51.5kg 1113xT: Joseph O'Brien | ||
| 7. Middle Earth (13) J: Ethan Brown54.5kg 50903T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 21. River Of Stars (14) J: Beau Mertens51.5kg x7802T: Chris Waller | ||
| 23. Torranzino (18) J: Celine Gaudray51kg 80821T: Paul Preusker | ||
| 4. Vauban (2) J: Blake Shinn56.5kg x3650T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | ||
| 1. Al Riffa (19) J: Mark Zahra59kg x4211T: Joseph O'Brien | ||
| 9. Absurde (4) J: Kerrin McEvoy53.5kg 2x3x7T: Willie Mullins | ||
| 13. Changingoftheguard (24) J: Tim Clark53kg 82106T: Kris Lees | ||
| 8. Meydaan (22) J: James McDonald54kg 05239T: Simon & Ed Crisford | ||
| 17. Furthur (7) J: Michael Dee52kg 52516T: Andrew Balding | ||
| 3. Arapaho (15) J: Rachel King56.5kg 36408T: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 10. Flatten The Curve (17) J: Thore Hammer-Hansen53.5kg 1411xT: Henk Grewe | ||
| 12. Smokin' Romans (11) J: Ben Melham53.5kg 72948T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 22. Royal Supremacy (21) J: Robbie Dolan51kg 11215T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 24. Valiant King (10) J: Jye McNeil51kg 3x013T: Chris Waller | ||
| 15. More Felons (23) J: Tommy Berry53kg x0944T: Chris Waller | ||
| 6. Presage Nocturne (9) J: Stephane Pasquier55.5kg 13x34T: Alessandro Botti | ||
| 18. Parchment Party (3) J: John R Velazquez52kg 2311xT: William I Mott | ||
| 19. Athabascan (1) J: Declan Bates51.5kg x0002T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | ||
| 11. Land Legend (16) J: Joao Moreira53.5kg 39500T: Chris Waller | ||
| 5. Chevalier Rose (5) J: Damian Lane55.5kg 70x0xT: Hisashi Shimizu | ||
| 2. Buckaroo (12) J: Craig Williams57kg x3232T: Chris Waller |
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