Trainer Mick Burles immediately saw something he liked about lot three at the 2009 Magic Millions Tasmanian yearling sale.

Still, he looked at the colt later named The Cleaner three times before deciding to hand over $10,000.

"He's a cocky bugger and I like that," Burles said.

"He had a nice swagger on him.

"He had everything I wanted, so I thought he'll do.

"And I got him cheap then had to give him away again."

When his training business took a downturn Burles sold The Cleaner to three golfing mates, who recognised the knockabout trainer's special touch with the star Tasmanian galloper.

"He's done an excellent job, my word he has," co-owner Bill Fawdry says.

"He knows the horse inside out. He knows what to do with him. No one else does."

The Cleaner has become a cult figure for his front-running style while his trainer has also endeared himself to the public.

Both horse and trainer are well known for their preferred method of travel from their base in the northern midlands town of Longford to the mainland - the ferry.

Burles says The Cleaner is a brilliant traveller but he has abandoned plans to take him to Sydney over the autumn.

"The ferry's good, that doesn't worry him," Burles said.

"That's 11 hours then it's nine hours to Sydney in a truck.

"It's just too much for him. Too much for me too. I'm getting too bloody old."

Instead, The Cleaner goes to Saturday's Group Three Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield.

The $3 million Cox Plate in October is the long range plan for The Cleaner who finished ninth in 2014, three lengths from the winner Adelaide.

"We'll be there again this year," Burles says.

"And I won't get killed like I did last year. We won't say any more about that."

Fawdry thinks this year will also be The Cleaner's time.

"He's like Mick, he's getting to be an old man like Mick. They've got to win one soon don't they?" he said.

Burles originally envisaged buying The Cleaner as his retirement fund, before money matters intervened.

The 65-year-old doesn't fancy trying to find another lion of Longford to start off with.

"No, when he's finished I am. I might muck around."

Burles says he has a couple of young ones at Longford he'll get going before eventually handing over the reins to a training partner.

"I'll always be there but just take them out of my name so I can retire.

"I got no money but I can still retire."

The Cleaner's $45,000 cheque for fourth place in the recent Australian Cup took his career prize money past the $1 million mark.

But Burles is not one to look back and think about what might have been.

"No, a sale's a sale. I'll never ask for nothing back and I wouldn't do that," he said.