STAR Tasmanian galloper The Cleaner will make his return to racing in Victoria next month.
The Cleaner’s trainer Mick Burles confirmed today that his stable star would tackle a 1500-metre open handicap race at Moonee Valley on August 22.
“By the time he races he will have had about 11 weeks work and this looks an ideal race for him to start his next campaign,” Burles said.
The Cleaner ended his last campaign with a fifth in the Group 3 Easter Cup over 2000m at Caulfield in April but his performances earlier this season have him in contention for Tasmania’s horse of the year title.
The gelding won two Group races in Victoria and contested the Cox Plate and was placed third in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes.
“We’re looking to have another attempt at the Cox Plate but the horse will tell us which way we go after his first couple of runs,” Burles said.
He went to Perth WA but failed to handle the trip and ran unlaced in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) but after a freshen-up he returned to Melbourne and was a creditable fourth in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) prior to tackling the Easter Cup.
“He has done well in the paddock and I reckon he’ll be back better than ever this time in,” he said.
The Cleaner ended his last campaign with over $1 million in stakes, earned from his 18 wins and 14 placings from 49 starts but Burles is confident the rising eight-year-old can add to that in the coming season.
While Burles is upbeat about The Cleaner’s prospects the trainer has been dealing with a few health issues in recent week as he tries to recover from three broken ribs and a damaged vertebrae in his neck courtesy of chiropractic treatment.
“I went to the chiropractor for some treatment but I forgot to tell him I was on a particular medication that softens the bones so when he did what he usually does it caused a few problems.”
“It’s painful but I’m on the mend,” Burles said.
By Peter Staples.