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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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1st
14. Half Yours (8)
J: Jamie Melham 53kg
T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
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.
Melbourne Cup 2025 Results
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1st
14. Half Yours (8)
J: Jamie Melham 53kg
T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
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2nd
20. Goodie Two Shoes (20)
J: W M Lordan 51.5kg
T: Joseph O'Brien |
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3rd
7. Middle Earth (13)
J: Ethan Brown 54.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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4th
21. River Of Stars (14)
J: Beau Mertens 51.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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5th
23. Torranzino (18)
J: Celine Gaudray 51kg
T: Paul Preusker |
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6th
4. Vauban (2)
J: Blake Shinn 56.5kg
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
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7th
1. Al Riffa (19)
J: Mark Zahra 59kg
T: Joseph O'Brien |
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8th
9. Absurde (4)
J: Kerrin McEvoy 53.5kg
T: Willie Mullins |
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9th
13. Changingoftheguard (24)
J: Tim Clark 53kg
T: Kris Lees |
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10th
8. Meydaan (22)
J: James McDonald 54kg
T: Simon & Ed Crisford |
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11th
17. Furthur (7)
J: Michael Dee 52kg
T: Andrew Balding |
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12th
3. Arapaho (15)
J: Rachel King 56.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
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13th
10. Flatten The Curve (17)
J: Thore Hammer-Hansen 53.5kg
T: Henk Grewe |
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14th
12. Smokin' Romans (11)
J: Ben Melham 53.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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15th
22. Royal Supremacy (21)
J: Robbie Dolan 51kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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16th
24. Valiant King (10)
J: Jye McNeil 51kg
T: Chris Waller |
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18th
15. More Felons (23)
J: Tommy Berry 53kg
T: Chris Waller |
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19th
6. Presage Nocturne (9)
J: Stephane Pasquier 55.5kg
T: Alessandro Botti |
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20th
18. Parchment Party (3)
J: John R Velazquez 52kg
T: William I Mott |
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21st
19. Athabascan (1)
J: Declan Bates 51.5kg
T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton |
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22nd
11. Land Legend (16)
J: Joao Moreira 53.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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23rd
5. Chevalier Rose (5)
J: Damian Lane 55.5kg
T: Hisashi Shimizu |
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24th
2. Buckaroo (12)
J: Craig Williams 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
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