Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours will undergo mandatory imaging at Werribee on Wednesday, a key step that will determine if the five year old takes his place in the 2025 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 4 November. Co-trainer Calvin McEvoy says the gelding has come through last Saturday’s 2400 metre win in good order and holds a “winning weight” despite a post-Cup handicap penalty. (News.com.au)
The scans are part of Racing Victoria’s strengthened safety program. International runners entered for the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate or Melbourne Cup must pass a standing CT at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre in Werribee before each start in Australia. The protocol sits alongside a broader 2025 framework that eased repeat CT obligations for some non-Cup internationals but kept strict checks for Cup-entered horses. (dxp-cdn.racing.com)
Why Half Yours matters right now
Half Yours did not just win a major. He reshaped the Cup picture. The gelding’s Caulfield performance forced a weight reassessment and pushed connections toward Flemington, pending veterinary clearance. Markets moved. Maps changed. The race tempo conversation shifted toward a genuine staying test. The horse has run often in the last year and thrives on work, according to the stable, which plans to keep his routine light between now and acceptance time if the imaging panel gives the all clear. (News.com.au)
Ownership and sourcing add to the story. Half Yours was a sharp piece of buying, secured for 305,000 dollars via Inglis Digital in late 2024 from the Halo Racing reduction. Bloodstock agent Damon Gabbedy acted for Tony and Calvin McEvoy. It is a textbook value acquisition that turned into a Group 1 winner within a year and a spring headline within ten months. (inglis.com.au)
What the protocols mean for Cup week
- Standing CT is required for international Cup, Plate and Caulfield Cup entrants after quarantine and before each Australian start. It is conducted at Werribee’s University of Melbourne Equine Centre.
- 2025 changes reduced repeat CTs for some non-Cup internationals. That does not apply to Cup-entered horses, who remain under the strict regime.
- Scans are a risk screen. They do not grade fitness or form. If specialists flag areas of concern, stewards can stand a horse down or request further imaging such as PET.
- Recent withdrawals show the system has teeth. High-profile Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup fancy Sir Delius was ruled out on specialist advice after failing compulsory exams. (dxp-cdn.racing.com)
How the weight now shapes tactics
The two kilogram penalty matters over 3200 metres. Handicaps are designed to compress margins across two miles. The McEvoys have called the new impost a winning weight. That suggests a plan built around cover, rhythm and one sustained run rather than a mid-race burn. Melbourne Cup tempo can punish early moves. Weight increases that risk. Expect a ride that saves fuel through the middle stages and asks for an unbroken build from the home bend. The stable’s public line is calm. The starting point remains scans first, tactics later. (News.com.au)
Field dynamics are still moving. Several contenders remain subject to veterinary checks, and acceptances will tighten closer to the weekend. Sir Delius’ exit has already removed one on-pace map scenario and has changed likely speed through the first 800 metres. That could help grinders who lengthen rather than sprint. Keep an eye on official imaging communications and steward notices for late changes. (The Chronicle)
Key data at a glance
H3: Melbourne Cup lead-up snapshot
| Item | Current status | Primary source |
|---|---|---|
| Scan location | University of Melbourne Equine Centre, Werribee | (dxp-cdn.racing.com) |
| Requirement for Cup-entered internationals | Standing CT before each Australian start | (dxp-cdn.racing.com) |
| 2025 variation for some internationals | Reduced repeat CTs for non-Cup entrants | (Racing Victoria) |
| Half Yours next step | Standing CT on Wednesday, then routine work if cleared | (News.com.au) |
| Handicap change | Plus 2 kilograms for Melbourne Cup | (News.com.au) |
| Cup date | Tuesday 4 November 2025 | (Victoria Racing Club) |
| Recent precedent | Sir Delius ruled out after failing compulsory exams | (The Chronicle) |
| Purchase history | Bought for 305,000 dollars at Inglis Digital November Late 2024 | (inglis.com.au) |
| Caulfield Cup replay and results | 18 October 2025, Caulfield, 2400 metres | (Just Horse Racing) |
How the McEvoys can turn Caulfield form into a Cup finish
Half Yours’ Caulfield win offered clear clues. He travelled, relaxed and quickened when asked. That pattern suits Flemington. Two miles requires economy early and strength late. Horses that corner smoothly and hold a line through the last 400 metres tend to win Cups. The gelding’s action and cadence profile suggest he can lengthen rather than dash. That helps when the straight feels endless and pressure kicks at the clock tower. The critical risks are tempo drag and traffic. A midfield map with cover would be ideal. A wide no-cover trip would be costly with extra weight. The team will aim to avoid that. (Just Horse Racing)
Connections will also manage micro-details. Weight tracking, feed intake, hydration and recovery markers in the fortnight matter as much as trackwork. The target is freshness without fizz. Expect a quiet public gallop in Cup week if cleared. Any late gear tweaks would be conservative. Nothing in the campaign profile suggests a need for change. The plan is to hold condition, pass scans and execute a simple ride. (News.com.au)
What punters and owners should watch between now and Cup Day
- Official imaging updates from Racing Victoria and stewards. Look for clear pass notes or requests for further scans.
- Weather and track patterns. A drying surface can help higher weights carry. Soft ground can bring lighter handicaps into the race.
- Barrier draw. Low to middle alleys reduce early work and first-turn risk. Wide draws can force decisions at the 1800 metre chute.
- Market moves after acceptances. Watch for firmers with clean scans and favourable maps. (dxp-cdn.racing.com)
H4: The economy, the crowd and Cup week changes
Cup week is not only a race. It is a large event with measurable impact. Last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival generated more than 1 billion dollars in national economic activity, with over 500 million dollars in gross benefit to Victoria. The Victoria Racing Club is also tweaking on-course layouts in 2025 to bring fans closer to the action, open the infield to the public and refresh entertainment precincts. Expect even bigger crowd flows, new vantage points and more family friendly zones. That lifts dwell time and spend, which in turn rewards sponsors and hospitality operators. (Herald Sun)
For Half Yours, a more engaged Cup crowd adds to the story. The Caulfield Cup win created a clear local hero narrative heading into Flemington. The horse is Australian bred and a cost-effective purchase that climbed fast through the grades. That mix plays well with fans who value underdog profiles and sharp stable placement. If the scans are clean and the map is kind, the McEvoys have a live chance to turn a smart acquisition into the spring double. The checklist is simple. Pass the test. Keep him happy. Execute once. (inglis.com.au)
Trending FAQ
Is Half Yours locked in for the Melbourne Cup?
Not yet. He must pass a standing CT at Werribee and receive steward clearance under the 2025 protocols. The stable expects to proceed if the scan is clean. (News.com.au)
What exactly is the two kilogram penalty and why does it matter?
Handicappers lifted the Cup weight by two kilograms after the Caulfield Cup win. Over 3200 metres, that adds real load, so ride timing and energy saving become critical. (News.com.au)
Have the stricter checks affected other contenders?
Yes. Sir Delius was ruled out of both the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup after failing compulsory exams and receiving specialist advice. It is a live example of the system at work. (The Chronicle)
When is the 2025 Melbourne Cup?
Tuesday 4 November 2025 at Flemington. Gates open early. The Cup is the seventh race on the card most years, but always confirm the published order in week-of guides. (Victoria Racing Club)
Where did Half Yours come from and who bought him?
He was purchased for 305,000 dollars in the Inglis Digital November Late 2024 sale by Belmont Bloodstock for Tony and Calvin McEvoy. That buy has proven outstanding value. (inglis.com.au)
What should I monitor in the final days?
Scan outcomes, weather, barrier draw and any market shifts tied to clean passes. Use Racing Victoria’s releases and steward communications for reliable updates. (dxp-cdn.racing.com)
Does the VRC expect bigger crowds or changes on course this year?
Yes. The club has refreshed precincts, opened the infield and moved Fashions on the Field back to the front lawn to pull fans closer to the track. (Herald Sun)
Bottom line
If Half Yours passes scans and holds condition, he is a genuine chance despite the penalty. The path is clear. The risk controls are in place. The dream is alive. (News.com.au)
