TASMANIA’S equine cult hero The Cleaner further enhanced his reputation as the “People’s Favourite” by leading all the way to win the JRA Cup over 2040 metres at Moonee Valley last Friday night.
The bold front-running gelding made it three wins in succession on the Valley circuit when he outgunned a quality field on Friday night in what was his final hit-out before going up against some of the best weight-for-age middle distance gallopers in the world at Moonee Valley on October 25.
Now that the Mick Burles-trained seven-year-old has won at the Cox Plate distance the reality that he is a genuine winning chance to win the coveted weight-for-age race has finally hit home with his trainer.
“Winning the JRA Cup was great, especially as I didn’t think he was ready to step up to that distance (from 1600m to 2040m) and win because I wanted to leave some improvement in him for the Cox Plate,” Burles said.
“There also was a little issue with him before the race that may have been a problem but thankfully it amounted to nothing.”
“After last Friday night’s raced I couldn’t sleep. It was the first time it has affected me in that way (post-race anxiety).”
“I finally got to sleep about 5.15 on Saturday morning and at 6.30 I had one of The Cleaner’s owners knocking on my door and calling to get my bags as we had to catch an early flight back to Tassie.”
“I got on the plane, sat down and closed my eyes and the next thing I know we are touching down in Launceston,” he said.
While Burles might be feeling the affects of the pressure leading up to the Cox Plate, The Cleaner remains his usual calm self.
“The horse ate up everything in his feed bin after the race and he hasn’t left an oat since the race so he is in great shape,” Burles said.
“We are still trying to keep a lid on things because I want his preparation for the Cox Plate to be no different to any other race but the media commitments that go with this journey are quite daunting and it’s very hard to my head around it.”
With no race meeting scheduled in Tasmania on Cox Plate day (October 25), Tasracing and the Tasmanian Racing Club has rescheduled the Sunday meeting (October 19) in Hobart to the Saturday.
Related information:
- The Cleaner’s journey to the Cox Plate (includes audio and video interviews)
- The full StrideMASTER analysis on The Cleaners chances for the Cox Plate [PDF]
- This weeks Punters’ Dashboard featuring StrideMASTER
- Go The Cleaner on Cox Plate day race meeting in Hobart – Facebook event page