Crack Me Up to miss Bernborough

Group Two Villiers Stakes winner Crack Me Up will bypass a possible $100,000 bonus on the Bernborough Handicap to concentrate on the Magic Millions carnival.

Crack Me Up won the Villiers at Randwick on December 16, making him eligible for the bonus for any horse winning the Villiers-Bernborough double.

Trainer Liam Birchley said it was a tough decision because the Bernborough carried a first prize of $192,000.

“With the bonus we would have been running for more than some Group One race first prizes,” Birchley said.

“But in the end it came down to the horse. He had a touch of the heat after the Villiers and he had the trip down and back.”

“He has been up at Archer Park and we have been able to freshen him up.”

“A month between runs is about right at this stage of his campaign.”

Birchley will wait until after the Magic Millions Cup on January 13 to decide whether to aim Crack me Up at the Sydney autumn or Brisbane winter.

As the winner of the Villiers, Crack Me Up has secured his place in the $3 million Doncaster Mile at Randwick in April.