Jockey Damian Browne’s noted ability to balance his mounts will see him ride promising Crack Me Up with a huge weight on Saturday.
Crack Me Up was one of the best Queensland performers at the most recent winter carnival.
At his last two carnival starts he won the Group Three Sunshine Coast Guineas and the Listed Tatts Mile.
Crack Me Up was also second in the Listed Wayne Wilson Stakes behind smart Sydney galloped Religify.
Trainer Liam Birchley has always had a big opinion of Crack Me Up which, confirmed by the fact 11 of the gelding’s 16 starts have been in stakes races.
Birchley has earmarked Crack Me Up’s comeback run to be under benchmark conditions at Doomben.
“He has got 63 kilkos which we expected because of his high rating,” Birchley said.
“I suppose I could have used a claiming apprentice but really having Damian is like having a claim.
“Damian has lovely balance and gets horses travelling smoothly. It is why he wins on so many top weights.
“It is an ask to win with 63 kilos but he has a bit on them class-wise.”
Birchley said Crack Me Up was a Magic Millions eligible horse but there wasn’t a race for him on the main day.
“There is no 1600 metres at the Gold Coast and they have increased the Millions 1800-metre race to 2200 metres which doesn’t suit him,” Birchey said.
“I am looking at running him in the (Group Two) Villiers at Randwick next month which will be his main aim.”
Browne has been missing from recent Brisbane meetings as he has been riding in Sydney on Saturdays of late.
As is usual Browne rode at the Sunshine Coast on Melbourne Cup day on Tuesday where he won three of the six races.
