'A famous win': Half Yours and jockey Jamie Melham claim historic Caulfield Cup
Updated . First published at
Half Yours won the $5 million Caulfield Cup at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday afternoon, securing a sensational victory, pulling away in the final moments of the race.
The win makes jockey Jamie Melham the first female to win a Caulfield Cup.
"A famous win for Jamie Melham and Team Mac [McEvoy]," said caller Matt Hill on Seven.
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The gelding was first past the post in the 2400m race, coming through the pack to victory in one of the Melbourne spring racing carnival's big three races.
A teary co-trainer, Calvin McEvoy added later: "She's [Jamie Melham] class, people have been saying she's a little bit out of form, class is permanent."
Jamie Melham riding Half Yours defeats Beau Mertens riding River of Stars in Race 9, the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup. Getty
The gelding was supported from $2.50 to $2.15 before jumping from barrier two for the 2400m race.
"Everything was perfect, worked out perfectly for him [Half Yours]," said Melham.
"He had to dig deep, and he's an absolute superstar horse. What Tony and Calvin [McEvoy] have done with him, they've just made this absolute professional of a horse.
"He's push-button. He doesn't like jumping that well, so I had to really get up him today. And he just spat the bit out and relaxed.
"It's such a special honour to win one of these most prestigious races in Australia."
Melham is the first female winning jockey in the race's 146-year history.
Jamie Melham kisses the Caulfield Cup. Racing Photos via Getty Images
In 2023, the Adelaide Hills native had a race fall in Flemington, that broke her wrist, foot, nose and left her in an induced coma for five days due to bleeding to the brain.
She now joins the likes of Michelle Payne as one of the only female in the sport to win one of the three majors - the Caulfield Cup, the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup.
"Just saying Caulfield Cup makes me cry. I've had an incredible career and ridden 17 great ones now," she added.
"But that major has obviously eluded me, and I just wanted to get maybe one, maybe three more, and the Melbourne Cup.
"This horse is going to run the trip out."
River of Stars came home in second with Valiant King in 3rd.