Rising nine year old The Cleaner is a surprise nomination for the Group 3 $150,000 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Cleaner, above, is among the nominations for the Bletchingly Stakes at Caufiield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The former Tasmanian trained galloper now under the care of Moe trainer Peter Gelagotis had been touted as making his debut for his new stable in the Group 2 $200,000 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 13 after scoring a six lengths win in a 1000m Cranbourne barrier trial on the synthetic track on July 8.
The Melbourne Racing Club has extended the nominations for the Bletcingly Stakes until 10am on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 after the The Cleaner was one of only fourteen nominations for the Group 3 sprint.
The Cleaner will be making his first appearance since injuring a tendon but had responded well to his rehabilitation treatment.
“The regime we have put in place to get him back to the track seems to have been as successful as we could have hoped for,” the stable’s racing manger Manny Gelagotis told G1X.com.au.
Also among the nominations for the Bletchingly Stakes is the Lindsay Park trained Fast ‘N’ Rocking who was out of luck last start when sixth to Wild Rain in the Group 3 $150,000 Food Services Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 16.
Fast ‘N’ Rocking had drawn barrier six in the fifteen horse field and after jumping with the field, drifted back along the fence, settling just worse than midfield with horses all around him.
After being boxed in the on the fence, jockey Dwayne Dunn had no choice but to ride for luck in the straight, but the runs never came and Fast ‘N’ Rocking never secured a clear run to the line and finished on heels of the placegetters.
Lord Of The Sky is another handy sprinter nominated for Saturday and trainer Robbie Laing is expecting the five year old to strip a much fitter race horse on the weekend after finishing a first up fourth in the Sir John Monash Stakes.
“He definitely went there a run short – he looks a lot tighter and I’m very happy with him,” Laing said
“I’m looking forward to the Bletchingly.”
Darren Weir’s improving three year old Mahuta will be warming up for the 2016 Spring Carnival when he resumes in the Bletchingly Stakes and the Melbourne Cup winning trainer is keen for him to make a good first up impression.
“He’s still big and woolly and gross but he’s a powerful, big horse now,” Weir told AAP.
“He’s had two jump-outs and the second one was good.
Weir has also nominated Thermal Current who was a winner two starts back in the $100,000 Golden Topaz (1200m) at Swan Hill on June 10 before running seventh in the Sir John Monash Stakes.
Group 1 winner Smokin’ Joey is also among the nominations and is set to make a return to the race track following his last start sixteenth to Black Heart Bart in the Group 1 $500,000 Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 21.
Lee and Anthony Freedman have nominated last start winner Ruettiger and Charmed Harmony will represent the John Sadler stable.
