Trained and reined by Chris Voak, Half Kidding had gone down narrowly to finish second at her previous two attempts, but Saturday was her night, with the $1.36 favourite starting from barrier 10, the pair worked their way three wide with two laps to go to eventually gain the lead, kicking clear to win by 26.3m in 2:05:1 over the 2242m trip.

Showing promise as a two-year-old and running third in the Gr1 2Yo Fillies Sales Classic in 2021, when injury struck in April 2022, her owner, Kerry Watson had to make the decision on whether to go down the rehabilitation route or retire her to broodmare duties instead.

"It was a toss of a coin as to rehab her or turn her out as a broodmare,

"She had an 8cm torn tendon and hoof problems that Chris Voak found during her rehab." Owner Kerry Watson said.

Chris Voak was given the opportunity to try the mare due to behavioural issues in her races, resulting in her being stood down for 13 days and 2 trials, with Voak noticing the mare had mild swelling in her leg.

Although the prognosis was less than ideal, after four months of paddock rest, the leg was re-scanned and the tendon was healing much faster than anyone could have expected. Their rehab process continued over the next five months, with the mare eventually getting the 'all clear' to go back into race work.

Purchased at the 2020 APG Yearling sales for just $8500 and that's where Watson got the idea of her name.

"Darren McAullay was the auctioneer, the bid was at $8000, so I made the sign for $8500, and he said 'Half? Are you kidding' and that's how she got Half Kidding,

"I just liked the look of her when we inspected her."

Half Kidding has now had 14 starts for the one win and four placings, with Watson confirming that she has pulled up well from the win, cleaning out the feed bin as soon as she got home on Saturday night.