Half Yours proved himself one of the shrewdest second-hand buys of the century as he added to a regal day for unsung sires by lifting the Caulfield Cup (G1) at Caulfield Racecourse Oct. 18.
Bringing trainer Tony McEvoy his first victory in the race—made more special by achieving it in partnership with son Calvin—the 5-year-old prevailed and gave rider Jamie Melham her first victory in one of Australia's "Big Four".
More spring glory could await, with bookmakers responding by drastically shortening Half Yours into AU$3.50 favoritism for the Melbourne Cup (G1) at Flemington Nov. 4.
Starting from gate two, Melham had Half Yours well positioned in midfield as the Caulfield Cup unfolded at an even tempo. The race changed dramatically when Jordan Childs sent Adelaide River to the front at the 1,300 meters (about 6 1/2 furlongs), opening a gap that stretched to eight lengths down the railway side.
But while that caused heart flutters for McEvoy Sr., he needn't have worried.
As the field bunched around the home turn, Melham eased Half Yours into the clear some eight horses wide, and the gelding responded majestically, claiming the lead from Adelaide River inside the 200 meters, and finishing powerfully to score by 0.46 lengths over River of Stars. Valiant King was third.
And like the relatively unsung Shamexpress did in siring Everest (G1) winner Ka Ying Rising, the even lesser known St Jean emerged with a stunning top-tier triumph through Half Yours's powerful victory.
Standing at Victoria's Brackley Park stud for AU$3,300, St Jean the Obscure has covered just 26 mares in the past four seasons. He has a stakes-winners-to-runners ratio of 4.54%, but that's because Half Yours is his sole black type victor among just 22 runners.
A little-known pedigree matters little when you watch Half Yours gallop, although he was definitely bred to stay, being by a son of Teofilo out of a daughter of Desert King, who was also the sire of a certain triple Melbourne Cup winner in Makybe Diva.
The gelding was bred by his original trainer, Maher, and the late Colin McKenna, out of a mare ironically named La Gazelle.
Half Yours won two of his first five starts, but after McKenna's death last year, was auctioned on Inglis Online in an unreserved reduction. McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock went hard to purchase him, paying AU$305,000, with Maher the underbidder as he unsuccessfully tried to keep the budding stayer in his stable.
After easily winning the Naturalism Stakes (G3) at Caulfield two starts earlier, on Saturday he brought his trainers, and his second ownership team, a $3.3 million windfall.
Calvin McEvoy choked up when describing the feeling of winning one of Australia's most important races with his father.
"In this game it's really hard to get a start, and obviously I'm lucky to be in a privileged position," he said. "I don't know what to say. He's supported me and given me an opportunity in this great game."
His father joked back: "I think he might be nice to me for a little while now!"
"It's very important," McEvoy Sr. added. "It's quite a proud moment for me to be able to do it with Cal, and yeah, it's a really enjoyable moment for me.
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Ole Dancer Adds to Ole Kirk's Early Success in Thousand Guineas
Vinery Stud's budding star sire Ole Kirk has the elite title to go with his impressive list of early stud achievements after Ole Dancer's gritty victory in a thrilling Thousand Guineas (G1) at Caulfield Saturday.
Last season's champion first-season sire—and as of Saturday the new leader on the sophomore chart—Ole Kirk now has a group 1 winner among his five black type victors from just 48 runners, at 10.42%.
Bred by Neil Werrett, and bought by Moody Racing from the draft of North for AU$350,000 at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Ole Dancer now has three wins from five starts and the huge boost in value that comes with a top-tier success.
Jumping from gate five of 12 under Blake Shinn, the filly turned in the toughest of displays to win the main event.
While the first three at the 1,200-meter (about 6-furlong) mark ended up being the first three home, the Guineas provided a captivating spectacle.
Red hot favorite Apocalyptic, chasing a fourth straight win after taking Randwick's Flight Stakes (G1), went to the front for the first time in her career under new rider Mark Zahra. Shinn was content to sit off her rump, while Getta Good Feeling traveled third on the fence.
Apocalyptic was afforded two moderate mid-12-second sectionals from the 1,200 meters to the 800 meters before Zahra increased the tempo. Ole Dancer went right with her, and the pair settled in for an engrossing, tooth-and-nail duel over the last 600 meters.
Ole Dancer issued her challenge on straightening, and the renowned Moody white noseband edged closer to the lead. Apocalyptic, to her credit, fought back valiantly as the pair charged down the straight locked together under desperate riding. But while Michael Freedman's Sydney filly performed admirably, it was Ole Dancer who eventually pushed out to a 0.35 length win, with Getta Good Feeling 0.75 lengths further back in third.
For Moody, who now trains with Katherine Coleman, his 64th group 1 win harkened back to some glory days. Werrett has stayed in Ole Dancer's ownership along with Col Madden, his fellow former co-owner of Moody's phenomenon Black Caviar. Ole Dancer's ownership group is rounded out by Werrett's long-time associate Max Whitby.
"She's a lovely filly," Moody said of Ole Dancer. "We knew we were in for a very light spring because we'd lost most of our big guns, and this filly—we weren't disappointed in her last two runs, barriers had just brought around her demise.
"But, great respect for the Sydney filly. She just rose to the occasion and out-toughed her. The other one might have had one too many, and maybe we had one not enough too, because I thought it was going to out-tough us halfway down the straight.
"But she's a good quality filly, and thanks to Neil Werrett, what a day for him. He owns the stallion, he owns the mare, and he owns the racehorse with his great friends and family, Max Whitby and the Madden family."
Werrett also bred Ole Dancer's dam, Dancers, and second dam, Viennese Lass.
Ole Kirk is currently covering his fifth book at Vinery for AU$99,000, up from AU$55,000.
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Ceolwulf Repears in King Charles III
The Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf provided his connections with another memorable day at Randwick when securing successive victories in Saturday's King Charles III Stakes (G1).
Having run out a 0.8 length winner over the re-opposing Pride Of Jenni last year, the 5-year-old gelding proved a more dominant winner this time around as he shot to the front inside the final 100 meters and pulled 1.8 lengths clear of Mr Brightside. There was a further 0.2 lengths back to Pier in third.
"I have said for a long time I've thought he was the best horse I ever trained, and it has been a long 12 months waiting for him to win again in the manner in which he won last year," Pride said.
"A fair few firm tracks have played a role. I could throw a heap of excuses at you. No one wants to hear them. I was just so happy to see him return to what I know he's capable of.
"I'm sure he will have his time when he is very consistent. He has just been a little bit patchy with his form, but he enjoyed having those blinkers on today."
Winning rider Chad Schofield, who is Ceolwulf's regular jockey, said Pride's decision to make a gear change was pivotal to the horse's return to form.
"I've got so much belief in him," Schofield said. "Just a masterstroke by Joe, just keeping that ace up his sleeve for the grand final today. The blinkers brought out the best of him and, God, he was good."
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