Popular galloper The Cleaner has been in excellent form this preparation and trainer Mick Burles is expecting another strong performance from his star galloper in the Jeep Don’t Hold Back Handicap (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The Cleaner will lead from the front in the Jeep Don't Hold Back Handicap at Moonee Valley this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
The Cleaner has become one of the most popular horses in Australia because of h is brave front-running style and he has been in sensational form since he returned to Burles stable in Tasmania after he was prepared Robert Smerdon during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.
The Savoire Vivre gelding took out the Listed George Adams Plate (1600m) at Launceston in February and he returned to Melbourne racing with a narrow second place finish behind Limes in a heat of the VRC-CRV Winter Championship at Flemington on May 24 before dominating the field when third in the Travis Harrison Cup (1600m) at Moonee Valley on June 21.
The Cleaner was forced to carry 60 kilograms in the Listed VRC-CRV Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 12, but produced another brave performance to finish second behind the talented Akavoroun.
Burles told Racing Ahead this morning that he has done everything that he can to keep The Cleaner happy during his winter campaign and believes that has been one of the major reasons for his excellent form.
“He is looking forward to this trip and he is ready,” Burles said.
“He is happy now that he is home and as long as I can keep the horse happy he will race well.
“I let him out into his paddock every day whether it is rain, hail or shin; he is out there today with his flippers and goggles on.
“He hates the box, but he likes to come in at a night.”
The Cleaner has been allocated the top-weight of 60.5 kilograms for the Jeep Don’t Hold Back Handicap and Burles has opted not to take a claim, meaning that the rising seven-year-old will be carrying the heaviest weight of his career to date.
Burles said that The Cleaner has plenty of experience at carrying big weights and he does not believe that will be a concern for the gelding in the Jeep Don’t Hold Back Handicap this weekend.
“Nearly all his life he has had a trackwork rider that weighs about 70 or 75 kilos and I think that sort of helps him,” Burles said.
“He is pretty use to it.
“I gave him a little gallop this morning and he was very impressive.”
The Cleaner has recorded 15 wins from his 40 race starts to date and has accumulated over $500,000 in prizemoney for connections after he was purchased for just $10,000 at the 2009 Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
