In a thrilling finish to Saturday's Group II Villiers Stakes at Randwick, the Liam Birchley-trained Crack Me Up denied the brave Cabeza De Vaca who led the field by 12 lengths coming into the home straight.
With a patented Josh Parr ride, Cabeza De Vaca led his rivals a merry dance but as he began to shorten stride in the final 100 metres Jason Collett pounced with Crack Me Up who won by a long-neck from Cabeza De Vaca (Northern Meteor) with the favourite Interlocuter (USA) (Medaglia d'Oro) a long-neck back in third. (photos Steve Hart ).
It was the fifth stakes win for the son of Mossman who was a $60,000 purchase by LB Racing from the Glastonbury Farms draft at the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Crack Me Up advances his record to five wins and five seconds from 20 starts with earnings of $513,250.
Birchley said he came close to winning the Villiers nearly a decade ago with Rags To Riches who was beaten a nose and a short-head in the 2008 Villiers behind Something Anything and Hey Elvis.
"We got beat a neck in this race a few years ago after a wide trip but we had a great time when we were here and a lot of the same owners are in this horse," Birchley said.
"So we got something back today. It worked out a bit unusually – we needed every bit of that straight.
"The horse has always been a trier and loves these big tracks."
The Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 13 is the next target for the son of Mossman.
"To some degree, it won't suit him as well as today's race but it's worth a shot," he said.
The 4yo gelding is a brother to Hoofit who was a stakes winner in New Zealand and America where he claimed the Grade III Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland.
Bred by Rob Ferguson, Crack Me Up is the ninth foal of the top-class Danehill mare Chuckle, winner of the Listed Dark Jewel Stakes at Scone while her list of placings included the Light Fingers Stakes, Magic Millions 2yo Classic, Silver Slipper Stakes and Sweet Embrace Stakes.
From the prolific family of Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort and Golden Slipper winner Overreach, Chuckle now resides in New Zealand.
She has a 2yo filly by Reliable Man (GB) named Leading Girl who was knocked down to John Chalmers Bloodstock for $100,000 at the NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.
Chuckle has a yearling colt by Reliable Man (GB) who is in the Bradbury Park consignment at the 2018 NZB Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka. She was covered by the son of Dalakhani again last spring.
Mossman has six lots catalogued for the Magic Millions and five at the Inglis Classic.
