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Crack Me Up wins 2017 Villiers Stakes Group 2 $250,000 at Randwick (NSW), 1600m.

The Liam Birchley-trained Crack Me Up, a Group Three winning three-year-old and triple Listed winner from 19 Queensland starts, did very well in taking out this Group Two feature at his first start from his home state.

He raced well back in sixth place, many lengths behind the tearaway leader (Cabeza De Vaca) before going to a distance second at the 200m. He then kept running on resolutely, catching the leader in the closing stages to score by a long neck in a really game effort and in quick time (1:34.98).

Cabeza De Vaca, a winner of five of his last six starts, went to the front but Josh Parr elected to run along at a very strong tempo (first 1000m 57.01), soon setting up a huge lead.

He was still ten lengths in front at the 200m, only tiring late for (long neck) second after running a gallant race in the lead.

The favourite Interloctuter was back in ninth place and conceding the leader about 25 lengths at the 600m. He got to a distant sixth at the 200m and kept finishing gamely for a very good third.

Mighty Lucky was a distant tenth and ran on well, going to the inner in the latter stages, for (0.7 lengths) fourth while the Irish import Mister Sea Wolf made up many lengths after being a distant 11th at the home turn for (0.9 lengths) fi‑h in a really solid performance.