Why the Turnbull Stakes is so crucial to Half Yours' spring targets

Calvin McEvoy and Troy Corstens have differing views on the ideal spring target for Half Yours, with the Turnbull Stakes set to provide a crucial guide to where the talented stayer heads next.

McEvoy and Corstens joined SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up with Gareth Hall for The Wednesday Agenda to discuss Half Yours’ campaign, with the Turnbull set to play a major role in determining whether he heads towards the Cox Plate or Caulfield Cup.

Calvin outlined their camp's clear target has been the Cox Plate.

“Our plan has always been the Cox Plate, we’ve been very vocal in saying that the Turnbull is his moving day and will tell us whether he can be competitive over 2000m against those horses or if the Caulfield Cup will be the better option," McEvoy said.

“We are bullish he will run in the Turnbull, if he wins he will go to the Cox Plate but if he runs three or four lengths behind Sir Delius then it probably makes the decision for us, doesn’t it.

“We have a very good horse and we don’t have to rush to make any decisions until after the race.”

Half Yours is currently a $13 chance with Sportsbet for the Turnbull Stakes, with McEvoy also pointing to the historical record of the Caulfield Cup when it comes to horses carrying significant weight.

“Historically the Caulfield Cup is a very good race for topweights, whereas the Melbourne Cup is not,” McEvoy said.

“We aren’t even ruling out the possibility of him running in all three. Why can’t he run the Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate? That’s not even out of the question.”

The Turnbull Stakes will ultimately provide the clearest indication of Half Yours’ spring path, with the stable prepared to keep its options open as it weighs up the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.