Villiers winner fresh for Crack at Millions
THE Doncaster Mile remains the goal for Crack Me Up who will first try to snare the $1 million Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast tomorrow.
Crack Me Up has been freshened since winning the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on December 16, a victory which earned him a start in the Doncaster at Randwick in April.
He is trained by Liam Birchley who said on legal advice he would not comment on charges laid by Victorian authorities regarding his involvement in three race day treatment offences in Melbourne which he said he would defend.
Birchley is busy making plans beyond tomorrow for Crack Me Up.
He considered chasing a $100,000 bonus for the winner of the Villiers and the Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Doomben on December 30.
“In the end we decided to freshen him up and bring him back for the Cup at 1400 metres,” he said.
“The distance probably isn’t ideal at this stage of his campaign but it is a milliondollar race.
“He is back at Eagle Farm after a freshen-up at Archer Park and he is certainly ready to race well.”
He said win, lose or draw Crack Me Up would be headed to the Doncaster Mile after a short spell.
“I would be stupid not to aim him at the Doncaster,” he said. “It is one of Australia’s great races and he doesn’t have to go in the ballot.
“Also if you look you will see the winners or placegetters in the Villiers have run well in the Doncaster of late.”
Fellow trainer Matt Dunn is confident promising Care To Think will run well in the Magic Millions Cup.
Care To Think is rated so highly he remains the favourite in most markets despite drawing barrier 19.
“I’ve never had a Group 1 winner so I am not so sure about what they are like on the way through,” Dunn said.
“But I hope this horse can take me to where I want to be as a Group 1 trainer.”