Half Yours handed 2kg penalty for Melbourne Cup

Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours will carry a 2kg penalty in the Melbourne Cup.

The five-year-old, trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, will rise from 51kg to 53kg for the $10 million race at Flemington on November 4.

The penalty follows Half Yours’ impressive $5 million Caulfield Cup win on Saturday, where he produced a strong finish from the 400m to have the race in his keeping at the 200m.

Half Yours will now attempt to become the 13th horse to complete the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double, and deliver a maiden Cup win for the McEvoys and jockey Jamie Melham.

RV head of handicapping David Hegan said the 2kg increase reflects the horse’s rising profile as a stayer and aligns with penalties given to previous Caulfield Cup winners, including Durston (2022) and Railings (2005).

He noted that the penalty also balances the weights for horses beaten in the Caulfield Cup, giving them a better chance in the Melbourne Cup.

“The 2kg penalty lifts Half Yours off the limit to 53kg, providing relief to those he defeated and ensuring a competitive Melbourne Cup,” Hegan said.

With seven wins from just 14 starts, Half Yours now tops the Melbourne Cup order of entry and secures a ballot exemption.