Mark Zahra replaces Jamie Melham for Half Yours’s Caulfield Cup defence
Jamie Melham will ride Blue Door in The Everest on the same day, while co-trainer Tony McEvoy has also offered Zahra the Melbourne Cup mount.
Mark Zahra will replace Jamie Melham aboard defending Caulfield Cup champion Half Yours, with Melham booked for Blue Door in The Everest.
Melham partnered Half Yours to victory in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups last year but will skip the 150th Caulfield Cup, with the $20 million Everest on the same day.
“Jamie’s made a call and I respect it but Mark is in the driver’s seat and if he wants to ride him in the big Cup, he can,” Half Yours’s co-trainer Tony McEvoy said.
Blue Door secured the Newgate Stud and GPI Racing slot after winning the Heritage Stakes. The filly will carry 51kg in the 1200-metre Everest at Randwick.
After the Turnbull Stakes, Melham was suspended for 10 meetings for careless riding, but will be eligible to return on October 13, four days before the two feature races.
Half Yours has been assigned 57.5kg for the 2400-metre Caulfield Cup. A successful defence would make him the first horse to win consecutive editions since Rising Fast in 1954 and 1955.
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