TASMANIA’S star galloper The Cleaner ended his spring campaign with a courageous third in the $1 million Group 1 Emirates Stakes over 1600m at Flemington today.
The Cleaner was coming off an unplaced run in the W. S. Cox Plate in which he finished ninth but only 3-1/2 lengths from the winner Adelaide after working three-wide for 800m before finding the lead.
But today from barrier six rider Steven Arnold was able to find the lead without using too much energy and when he hit the go button 600 metres from home the Mick Burles-trained gelding put three lengths on the opposition.
But 200m out the eventual winner Hucklebuck claimed him and forged clear with Lucky Hussler staking his claim and the well-backed Contributer trying to make an impact.
Hucklebuck moved over a length clear as Lucky Hussler’s run was about to end but The Cleaner kept grinding away and fought back to finish a game third on the heels of the runner-up.
Burles was thrilled with his stable star’s effort and while there had been talk of heading to Western Australia for a crack at the Group 1 $1 million Railway Stakes he confirmed The Cleaner would be heading back to Tasmania for a well-earned rest.
Listen to what trainer Mick Burles said after The Cleaner’s latest effort and what his plans are for the seven-year-old Tasmanian-bred gelding.