Half Yours Unlikely for Melbourne Cup After Caulfield Fall

Half Yours is unlikely to defend his Melbourne Cup title after his fall in the Caulfield Cup, with trainer Tony McEvoy saying he feels the stayer’s spring campaign is over. Jockeys Mark Zahra and Jye McNeil both escaped serious injury, while the Chris Waller-trained mare Ohope Wins was humanely euthanised after being brought down.

McEvoy told Racing.com on Sunday morning that a Melbourne Cup start was unlikely, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. The horse needed staples in two legs and won’t be able to work for 10 days.

“No decision at the moment but he won’t be able to work for 10 days so I think our campaign is over,” McEvoy said. “So, as disappointing as that is, we are still overjoyed that he seems OK.

“We are very lucky. He had four staples in a near foreleg and four staples put in an off-hind leg and he had a laceration under his chest, but all pretty superficial stuff in the scheme of things.”

McEvoy stressed no final call had been made. “I’d say his preparation is over but that is not a decision, that’s just a feeling. How can you bounce back after that and run in a Melbourne Cup?” he said.

Half Yours returned to his stable at Flemington on Saturday night after being cared for by veterinarians, the Herald reported.

Zahra and McNeil escape serious injury

Victorian Jockeys Association boss Matt Hyland told Betsy on Sunday morning that Zahra was discharged from hospital at around 11pm on Saturday, while McNeil was expected to be released on Sunday morning.

McNeil was “stiff and sore but in good spirits”, according to a social media post by former Melbourne Racing Club chairman John Kanga, Betsy reported. No announcement had been made on when either rider would return to the saddle.

Ohope Wins euthanised after being brought down

“The mare was immediately attended to by the veterinary team, however she was unable to be saved due to the nature of the injury sustained,” Racing Victoria stewards said after the race, 7NEWS reported.

“RV extends its condolences to Yulong, the owners of Ohope Wins, her trainer Chris Waller and their stable staff who cared for the horse and are deeply saddened by their loss,” the stewards’ statement said. Stewards will hold an inquiry into the incident, which will also be reviewed by RV Veterinary Services as standard practice.

How the fall happened

With about 200 metres to go in the 2400m race, Half Yours was in the middle of the pack when there appeared to be contact with Kings Valley, according to the ABC. Half Yours went down, sending Zahra into the turf, and Ohope Wins fell when McNeil was unable to avoid him.

The Age reported that Half Yours came down moments after Kings Valley (Jabez Johnstone) ran in following a buffeting duel with Rachel King’s Green Spaces shortly after the turn, and that Ohope Wins fell several strides later. Stewards are yet to make any findings on the cause of the fall.

Stewards spoke to jockeys Ethan Brown (Zahrann), Rachel King (Green Spaces) and Jabez Johnstone (Kings Valley) about what led to Half Yours falling, but adjourned the inquiry, the Herald reported. The inquiry into Ohope Wins’ fall, and interference involving the mare at the 2100m mark, was also adjourned.

Zahra picked up the ride on Half Yours after regular rider Jamie Melham chose to ride in The Everest at Randwick on the same day, Racing.com reported earlier this month. Waller was not at Caulfield, having stayed in Sydney with his Everest runner Joliestar, The Age reported.

“My thoughts, most importantly, are with the horses and riders that fell,” rival jockey Craig Williams said as he left the track, according to The Age.

What’s next

The race was won by the Gavin Bedggood-trained Kingswood under John Allen, who beat Saint George by half a length, with Enfjaar third and favourite Cosmic Crusader fourth. The Melbourne Cup will be run at Flemington on Tuesday 3 November.

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