Top Tasmania galloper The Cleaner will be out to make a winning start to the new season when he steps out in Jeep Don’t Hold Back handicap over 1600 metres at Moonee Valley today.
The Cleaner is coming off a game second to Akavoroun in the Winter Sprint Series final at Flemington three weeks ago.
He won at Moonee Valley at his previous start against similar opposition to what he will meet today.
The gelding’s trainer Mick Burles is confident he can make it successive wins at the Valley despite a rough trip across Bass Strait on Thursday night.
“We encountered probably the roughest trip to Melbourne than I’ve ever experienced but thankfully it didn’t seem to worry the horse because he ate every out in his feed bin and was as bright as a button when we docked this morning,” Burles said.
The Cleaner has drawn barrier one for this assignment and that pleases his trainer.
“This is the first time he’s dawn a decent barrier here in Melbourne and with the rain that has come in the past 24 hours we are likely to get a slow track and that would definitely play in his favour because the Valley track usually assists leaders in those conditions,” he said.
The Cleaner will be ridden by Noel Callow owing to regular rider Anthony Darmanin being sidelined with a knee injury.