Trainer of Melbourne Cup favourite Half Yours says horse ‘better than ever’ ahead of Flemington feature

The trainer of Melbourne Cup favourite and last start Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours says the horse is “better than ever” as the Australian-bred attempts to defend an international assault on next Tuesday’s Flemington feature. Tony McEvoy, who prepares the gelding alongside son Calvin, has won numerous Group 1 races, including the 2003 Cox Plate with Fields Of Omagh. But even after an historic triumph in another of the Australian racing majors, he insists his five-year-old is peaking for the 3200m contest. “He’s come out of the Caulfield Cup better than ever, better than any run,” McEvoy said. “I think that base of fitness that he’s got, he’s just in that zone now, and thankfully we haven’t had to train him hard. “It’s about happiness now.” The chestnut hacked around Flemington on Tuesday morning under regular rider Jamie Melham and pleased his trainer. “He’s a very fit horse and he hasn’t galloped since the Caulfield Cup,” McEvoy said. “He just been doing some striding work and that’s all he did again today. “His weight’s right, he looks right, so we’re just in a maintenance format and he strode out beautifully. “I just wanted to see his action was well, and Jamie said she had a heap of horse under her and he felt fantastic.” The unfashionably-bred galloper is by unheralded stallion St Jean, who had only covered a few mares at a paltry fee of $3,300 prior to this season. However, that fee has shot to $11,000 following the success of Half Yours. “Col McKenna bred him, and I reckon he bred him to win the Jericho Cup (4600m),” McEVoy said. “His pedigree says he’ll love the two-mile (distance) and the way he races, he relaxes, switches off, and then quickens up. “He was fabulous that last 400m of the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Jamie couldn’t pull him up... he had more to offer.” Moreover, Half Yours has won at four of seven starts on wet tracks, showing that he handles all goings. “It’s very exciting, actually, because it doesn’t change him,” McEvoy said. “He can do the same on soft ground, so that’s really comforting for us because it doesn’t suit all horses, and hopefully it’ll take half of them out.” In recent history, the Melbourne Cup has been owned by internationally-bred conveyances and the $6 market leader will have to defend an army of global visitors. “There have been times we’ve said this is not our race anymore because if you haven’t got an import, you can’t win it,” McEvoy said. “I know the last few years have been good with Vow And Declare and Knight’s Choice but what a joy it would be to win with a home-bred here in Victoria. “It’s a life-changing race. Any kid in Australia growing up, you hear about the Melbourne Cup. “I remember when I was at school, we’d stop and listen to it on the radio. “It would mean everything. It would change our lives.”