Half Yours, bred by Janice and the late Colin McKenna at The Union in Woolsthorpe, delivered a landmark victory in the 165th $10 million Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup, becoming the first Victorian-bred winner since 1973 and the only Australian-bred horse in this year’s field. Ridden by Jamie Melham, who made history as the first female jockey to win both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, Half Yours also completed the prestigious Caulfield Cup–Melbourne Cup double. The win was deeply meaningful for Janice McKenna, honoring her late husband Colin’s passion for Australian breeding and racing.

The victory highlights the strength of the Australian breeding industry, with Half Yours sired by St Jean, a lightly raced stallion with strong lineage tracing back to the influential broodmare Height of Fashion. Andrew Hore-Lacy, CEO of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, emphasized the significance of this achievement for local breeders, showcasing Australia’s capacity to produce world-class middle-distance and staying horses. The success also marked the first Melbourne Cup win for trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy and reinforced the value of supporting homegrown talent in the thoroughbred industry.