The Cleaner out to win before moving camps

Friday 21 June 2013, 3:56pm

Tasmanian trainer Mick Burles is looking to send stable star The Cleaner out a winner at Flemington ahead of the gelding's transfer to a leading Melbourne stable.

The Cleaner heads to trainer Robert Smerdon after Saturday's $100,000 David Bourke Provincial Plate (1610m), with his owners keen for him to be given a chance in Victoria.

Burles believes he has the horse in the right condition to farewell him on a high note.

"I know the horse pretty well and I've been through the form of the others," Burles said.

"There's some good up-and-coming horses but I'm happy where he is at and they'll know he's there."

The bold front-running style of The Cleaner all but ensures he'll give punters a sight under regular jockey Jason Maskiell.

"They are going to have to catch him, that's for sure," Burles said.

"His barrier (16) doesn't help but the way he jumps out and gets going it shouldn't be too much of a worry. And young Jason knows him well."

The Cleaner has won 12 of his 25 starts and already has a Melbourne victory with a 1-3/4-length success over 2100m at Sandown last August in a three-run Victorian campaign.

Burles is unsure what the Melbourne targets are for The Cleaner and said that would be up to his new trainer.

"Robert knows more about Melbourne racing than I do," Burles said.

He said The Cleaner's performances in Victoria would determine whether the horse returns to his stable in the future.

The Cleaner, runner-up in this year's Hobart Cup, has won over 1600m in Tasmania at his past two first-up runs.

He tuned up for his Flemington return with a 10-length win in a four-horse trial at Longford with Burles getting good reports from Maskiell.

"He said he's a lot stronger than last year," the trainer said.

The Cleaner was on the second line of betting on Friday behind last start Moonee Valley winner Lord Durante.

– AAP

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