Crack Me Up has continued an ideal lead-up to the 2018 Doncaster Mile by winning the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Royal Randwick this afternoon.
Crack Me Up won ballot-free entry into the Doncaster Mile with a slick win in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) while under the care of Liam Birchley in December, but as a result of the doping scandal currently surrounding the Queensland horseman, was transferred to Bjorn Baker’s stable on Thursday of this week.
Jumping from the gates well, the Mossman gelding was settled off the pace by jockey Jason Collett as Oxford Poet ($41), Arbeitsam ($6) and Mackintosh ($12) traded early blows up front.
Collett pulled the horse to the outside of the field upon approaching the turn, but allowed the horse plenty of time to steady before going for the whip.
Care To Think ($2.50) shot to the lead and looked on course to justify his market favouritism, but he was also a spectator as Crack Me Up easily reeled in his rivals before winning the Liverpool City Cup by a length.
Burning Passion ($14) hit the line well to finish third, while two-time Group 1 winner Egg Tart ($11) is sure to take plenty of benefit from her smart first-up run for fourth.
Collett also partnered Crack Me Up to his Villiers Stakes triumph in December and said that the horse was extremely adaptable to different conditions in the Liverpool City Cup.
“It was a different type of race today, it wasn’t as quick,” Collett said.
“He was probably never going to be beaten, the way he was travelling. The speed was good early and he just basically pulled his way into it and it was fairly soft in the end.
“Gee he looked a million dollars. He went to the start and wasn’t sweating up one bit. He’s come to Bjorn’s pretty dominant.
“On a performance like that, I’m not sure what improvement there is in him because he looked pretty well today, but getting up to the mile, he’s done it before in that sort of race and he’ll be one to look out for.”
Crack Me Up was available at huge 2018 Doncaster Mile odds prior to this afternoon’s win, but has now firmed onto the ninth line at a $21 quote, alongside the likes of Aloisia and Cliff’s Edge.