Brisbane trainer Liam Birchley is upbeat about the chances of claiming a stakes double in separate cities with stable stars Havasay and Crack Me Up.
Havasay will begin his quest for a million-dollar payday in the Bribie Handicap at Doomben while Crack Me Up is set for his grand final this campaign in the Villiers Stakes at Randwick.
Birchley has become accustomed to having chances in feature races in two states and there are more than a few similarities about Crack Me Up and Havasay who both found top form earlier this year.
While Crack Me Up won two stakes races during the winter carnival Birchley waited until August to run Havasay who then went on to win four races in a row.
Havasay has not run since winning an open handicap at Doomben on September 2.
“Not many horses win four races in a row anywhere,” Birchley said.
“But he really started to live up to the ability I always knew he had. He had a relatively light four-year-old season and it is paying off.
“Even as a two-year-old we thought enough of him to run him in some Listed races before he had won a race at all.”
As a three-year-old Havasay ran seconds in the Magic Millions Maiden and Darling Downs Guineas and was third in the Gunsynd Classic.
“It took him a while to win a race. But now he has struck form I am confident he can go on with it,” Birchley said.
The Eagle Farm trainer is noted for not knocking his horses around in trials but Havasay won at the Gold Coast two weeks ago beating some handy horses.
“I really have to start him on Saturday the way the programming falls. I will probably accept in the Magic Millions QTIS race and Magic Millions Cup with him,” Birchley said.
“Time is starting to run out and we will then have to find another race for him before the Millions day (January 13).”
The Bribie Handicap is one of Queensland’s oldest sprint races and has had several places on the racing calendar.
“It is consistently a strong race and it will give us a very good idea where we are at,” Birchley said.
