Jamie Melham becomes first woman to win Caulfield Cup

Jamie Melham became the first woman to win the Caulfield Cup on Saturday when she guided favourite Half Yours to victory in the 2400 metre Group 1 feature at Caulfield. The five year old gelding, trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, raced into contention around the home turn and ran to the front in the final 200 metres to win by about a half length, denying outsider River Of Stars and Valiant King.

Melham settled Half Yours midfield early before Adelaide River set a strong pace and briefly forced the field wide. As the runners regrouped approaching the home turn, Melham found a narrow opening and pushed the favourite through to take the lead in the closing stages. River Of Stars finished second and Valiant King third, with Presage Nocturne fourth.

The Caulfield Cup is one of the major races of the Melbourne Spring Carnival and carries a multi million dollar prize; connections said the winner's cheque was about 3 million. The victory strengthened Half Yours's standing for next month’s Melbourne Cup, with bookmakers shortening his odds and listing him among the early favorites for the 3200 metre race at Flemington.

Half Yours has a striking backstory. Bred by the late Colin McKenna,...