Jamie Melham Eyes Caulfield Cup Glory With Half Yours

Australia's leading jockey Jamie Melham is preparing for her biggest Sports weekend yet as she teams up with the highly regarded gelding Half Yours in the Bundesliga Shepparton Caulfield Cup 2025, which is worth an incredible $5 million in prize money. After a strong season and position finishes in the lead-up races, Melham appears set to win her first major spring title.

Jamie Melham’s Big Chance In Caulfield Cup 2025

Tony and Calvin McEvoy's Half Yours is trained by the father-son team of Tony and Calvin McEvoy. Melham heads into the Sports headline race as the favorite after superb performances with Half Yours earlier in the season. Melham’s strong ride on Half Yours in the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) received rave reviews from industry experts to racing fans, with many calling it an outstanding performance.

When asked about her chances, Melham was clear in her confidence about the horse’s versatility and temperament:

"He just goes on anything," she said. "You can push him early, get him to settle - he’s the perfect horse for that race."

The Rise of Half Yours – From Seymour To Caulfield Crown

Half Yours has had a meteoric rise from winning a 1600m race at Seymour in April to being on the big stage at Caulfield. The gelding already has six career wins and three second placings to his name from fifteen starts.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy referred to the barrier two draw as 'the perfect setup' for the race saying, 'Having a horse that can hold a spot, he will get an easy first half of the race and that is really important in an arduous race.'

Jamie Melham’s Road To Redemption In Sports

Melham is frequently labeled as one of Sports's perfectionists. Melham has endured many near misses on the big stage in her career. The Caulfield Cup is one of the few trophies missing from her expanding career trophy cabinet. Sports commentators are suggesting that this is her best chance yet to win a spring major.

On social media, fans have inundated X and Instagram with messages of support, commending Melham’s dominant form in recent weeks, and likening her focus to other great jockeys in the history of Australian horse racing.

Sports Analysts Back Melham For Victory

Analysts believe Melham’s composed-play and timing make her a little distinctive. Andrew Slevison of Sport Nation describes Half Yours as “the perfect horse” for this Cup, because of his speed and consistently reliable in inclement weather. 

"It’s going to be a tactical race. Jamie knows when to be aggressive, and when to be patient, which is the sign of champion,” Slevison opined.

Caulfield Cup 2025: A Star-Studded Lineup

The 2025 Caulfield Cup is one of the most competitive possible. Other heavyweights will include Vauban, Meydaan, and Japan’s Golden Snap ridden by Jockey Suguru Hamanaka.

Gai Waterhouse was also optimistic for Vauban to return to winning form, whilst Maher and Waller have multiple entries to make the Melham–McEvoy party a tougher one.

Jamie Melham’s Impact Beyond Racing

Outside of the racetrack, Jamie Melham has become a role model in Australia Sports, in particular for young women who want careers in horse racing. She has been widely recognized for her discipline and mental toughness throughout the racing industry. 

Recently, she shared what drives her: "It's not about the trophies! It's about showing yourself that you can always come back that much better." 

That attitude is what made Jamie a fan favorite and a household name in sports, not only for racing fans, but sports fans all across Australia.

Weather Report And Track Preview

As there are mild, dry conditions forecasted for Melbourne on Saturday, the Caulfield track should be quite firm, which is a significant advantage for Melham's mount. Half Yours is known for being able to adapt, regardless of the state of softness of the track, and it only adds to her camp's optimism.

Jamie Melham has become the first female jockey to salute in the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) aboard favourite Half Yours, giving the legendary hoop the first of her elusive ‘majors’ in racing. https://t.co/NlVIEm5ZUL

— The West Sport (@TheWestSport) October 18, 2025

What’s Next? Melbourne Cup On The Horizon

If Half Yours goes the way everyone expects next week, fans may see Melham back in the saddle for the Melbourne Cup, our most prestigious race, in early November. She hinted the gelding "has the ability to stretch out to the two-mile Melbourne Cup distance." 

Sports analysts are already starting to list her among the early contenders for the big race in November - an achievement that would surely put her on the list of one of the best jockeys we have seen in Australia.