Tony G Triumphs Beyond the Tables - His Horse Half Yours Conquers the $4.5 Million Melbourne Cup!

Antanas Guoga, a Lithuanian native who moved to Australia at eleven, embodies dynamic energy in the poker world. From legendary televised clashes to high stakes livestreams and building brands — including founding PokerNews in 2002 — Tony is a force to be reckoned with. As a player, he regularly competes at the highest cash game tables, having won over 11 million dollars in live tournaments.

Tony's life story features incredible chapters beyond poker — from the Soviet Union to Australia and eventually the European Parliament. We covered his journey in an episode of our Poker Beyond series, which you can revisit here:

From Tables to Turf

Today, we're venturing beyond poker and business to dive into the world of horse racing. Poker and racing share a combination of calculated bravery, perfect timing, and long-term vision. This allure drew Tony to the grand stands of the 165th Melbourne Cup, where he had not one but two stakes.

Tony owns an undisclosed share in race favorite Al Riffa, yet he's also a co-owner of Half Yours. Mid-race, Half Yours maintained a steady position, but in the final turn, it surged forward, crossing the finish line with a three-length lead. The result? A prize of 4,500,000 AUD (approximately 2.5 million euros)!

“I’m very proud to have won the Melbourne Cup with our horse Half Yours!” Tony G posted on X, sharing that this victory fulfilled a childhood dream. Tony demonstrated that his knack for finding value extends beyond casinos, where this childhood dream also brought a significant return on investment.

The story carries an inspiring human element. Half Yours' jockey, Jamie Melham, became only the second woman to win “The Great Race” — the first being Michelle Payne a decade ago. Two years ago, Melham battled for her life after a severe fall left her with a brain bleed and in a coma. Her comeback to the pinnacle was so remarkable that even Hollywood scriptwriters couldn’t have imagined it better.

Sources – X, PokerNews