Melbourne Cup (G1) winner Half Yours is on track to resume in the All Aged Stakes (G1) at Randwick Racecourse April 18, with connections mapping an ambitious and somewhat unconventional return against elite weight-for-age opposition.
The dual group 1 winner has impressed since returning from a nearly two-month spell, winning a 1,000-meter (about 5 furlongs) jump-out at Flemington Racecourse April 2, suggesting he has come back in strong order following his breakthrough spring campaign. His rise through the ranks last preparation was rapid, progressing from benchmark company to claim the Naturalism Stakes (G3) before completing the Caulfield Cup (G1) and Melbourne Cup double.
Co-trainer Calvin McEvoy said: "Dec. 23 he came back in, so he's just in the very early stages of the preparation, but he's having a light canter and looks terrific. We're very pleased with him. He had 7 1/2 weeks off and he looks a different horse. He's put a lovely cover on and softened up, and there's plenty to work with."
At 1,400 meters (about 7 furlongs), the All Aged Stakes will provide an early test at the highest level over a distance short of Half Yours' best. He is set to take on the likes of Jimmysstar, Giga Kick, Briasa, Angel Capital, and Fangirl in the AU$1.5 million contest.
Four-time group 1 winner Fangirl will also make her seasonal return Saturday. Last seen running fourth in the Empire Rose Stakes (G1) Nov. 1, the 7-year-old mare is a stable favorite of trainer Chris Waller's and landed the AU$1 million 7 Stakes among four runs in the spring.
"I don't see her as an unlucky horse, I see her as a good horse that's been beaten by some good horses and that's beaten some good horses,'' Waller told Racing NSW. "I see her as a King Charles winner, an unlucky runner behind Anamoe a few times but she's had a great career and has done us pretty proud. She's a star. She's close to my favorite, very close.
"She's always great first-up, she's not taken on seasoned horses when she's resumed previously, so that's the only difference. We've been working toward this day and she's well ahead of schedule and ready to run well. My strapper said to me she's in a better attitude to what she was in the spring. I feed off that information."
Campione D'Italia Aims for Group 1 Double
Having scored in the Inglis Sires' Produce Stakes (G1) April 4, the Waller-trained colt Campione D'Italia will line up in Saturday's Champagne Stakes (G1) just a fortnight later. The son of Snitzel will bid to emulate former Waller stablemate Militarize three years ago and land the Sires' Produce-Champagne Stakes double, and Waller feels the colt is worth going back to the well with given his current vein of form.
"Group 1s are so hard to win, and when you're in good form and there's a group 1 race just for 2-year-olds in your backyard, (it's hard to ignore)," Waller said.
Waller has also entered stakes winners Fireball and Diameter in the 1,600-meter (about 1-mile) event.
