Crack Me Up will continue travelling between Queensland and Sydney for multi-million targets after winning the Villiers Stakes-Gr.2 (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The Mossman miler had earned a trip south for the first time following a recent victory in the Recognition Stakes-LR at Doomben. He looked right at home in running to reel in tearaway Cabeza De Vaca by a long neck in the $250,000 Villiers.
Jockey Jason Collett admitted he was hoping the leader would tire in the final stages. “There’s only so much you can do when they’re 10 lengths in front,” he said. “I had to be patient and was confident with 100 metres to go.”
Trainer Liam Birchley said Crack Me Up will return home for the $1 million Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast on January 13 and then float down the Pacific Hwy again for the $3 million Doncaster Hcp-Gr.1 at Randwick on March 31.
“He loves big tracks like Randwick but I was a bit worried when the other one was so far in front,” Birchley said after receiving a ballot-free entry into the Big Mile. “The Doncaster is definitely something to look at now. But we will get to the Magic Millions first.”
Mossman has winning record ahead of the $10 million raceday at the Gold Coast in a month. He won the Magic Millions Cup with Triple Elegance in 2013 and the Magic Millions QTIS Plate in 2016 with his champion sprinter Buffering.
The Vinery veteran sired Crack Me Up from Dark Jewel Classic-LR winner Chuckle (Danehill). She also foaled Mossman’s international stakes winner Hoofit (NZ Bonecrusher Stakes-LR & Keeneland Phoenix Stakes-Gr.3).
Crack Me Up has earned $513,250 for a syndicate managed by Mark and Robert McLean. They bought him for $60,000 at the 2015 Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale from Glastonbury Farms.
Mossman has a total of 11 lots from his current crop of yearlings catalogued at the Gold Coast Magic Millions in January and Sydney Inglis Classic in February.
