Mixed news for champ as $6m Caulfield Cup field confirmed
Defending champion Half Yours has drawn well for this year’s Caulfield Cup, but will be without superstar jockey Jamie Melham this time around.
The six-year-old, who also took out the Melbourne Cup with Melham in the saddle last year, will jump from barrier seven in the $6 million feature on Saturday.
Jamie Melham wins the Melbourne Cup on Half Yours. AP
In the absence of Melham, who has opted to ride Blue Door at Sydney’s $20 million The Everest on the same day, trainer Calvin McEvoy has booked two-time Caulfield Cup winner Mark Zahra for the ride.
“Jamie made that call, and that’s fine. We get one of the best jockeys in the world on board, so we’re pretty happy,” McEvoy said on Tuesday.
Zahra rode Verry Elleegant (2020) and Without A Fight (2023) in the marquee race.
Despite winning two of Australia’s most prominent staying races in a stellar 2026 spring carnival, Half Yours is on the third line of betting after the barrier draw.
Cosmic Crusader is the $4.50 favourite with bookmakers but has drawn gate 17, while overseas raider Wine Dark Sea is rated a $7 chance in his Australian debut and will need to overcome a tricky draw from barrier 19.
Enfjaar will jump from the inside gate, while 2024 Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice has been dealt a huge blow after drawing barrier 22.
Caulfield Cup 2026 field and barrier draw
- 1. Half Yours (7)
- 2. Cosmic Crusader (17)
- 3. Treasurethe Moment (5)
- 4. Kingswood (20)
- 5. Knight’s Choice (22)
- 6. Middle Earth (11)
- 7. Enfjaar (1)
- 8. Green Spaces (18)
- 9. Royal Supremacy (8)
- 10. Wine Dark Sea (19)
- 11. Asterix (10)
- 12. Saint George (2)
- 13. Starford (15)
- 14. She’s A Hustler (6)
- 15. Soul Of Spain (13)
- 16. Zahrann (4)
- 17. Ohope Wins (16)
- 18. Kings Valley (12)
- 19e. The Euphrates (9)
- 20e. Juja Kibo (14)
- 21e. Point Of Law (21)
- 22e. Mr Monaco (3)
