Birchley team in form for winter carnival
Trainer Liam Birchley is set to again figure in the Brisbane winter carnival two-year-old features after Crack Me Up scored an impressive win at Toowoomba.
Crack Me Up ($4.80) was suited by a break-neck early pace and finished too strongly to beat Spot The Diff ($5) by 2-3/4 lengths in the Listed Dalrello Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Birchley has been a regular visitor to the winner’s circle with his juveniles in recent carnivals, training Blueberry Hill to win the Champagne Classic last year.
Crack Me Up will now head to the Group Two BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes on May 28 and the Group One JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) on June 11.
“He will have a lead-up but I am not certain in which race,” Birchley said.
“I might have another go at the Champagne Classic and there is the Listed Ken Russell Memorial at the Gold Coast in a fortnight.”
Crack Me Up cost $60,000 as a yearling at the Magic Millions Gold Coast sale and he is by top sire Mossman out of the former good racemare Chuckle who is by Danehill.
“He was immature at his first start and a spell has done him the world of good. He was suited with the pace on today and I am sure he will get further than 1200 metres,” Birchley said.