The owners of The Cleaner say a desire to base the horse in Victoria is among the reasons for their split with trainer Mick Burles.

Bill Fawdry, one of three part-owners of The Cleaner, confirmed Peter Gelagotis was in line to take over the training of the horse, although stable representative Manny Gelagotis said they would only do so if Burles gave them his blessing.

"I guess the real reason was that Mick was talking about retiring the horse," Fawdry said on Melbourne's RSN radio station.

"At the age he is at there is not a long future in front of him so we will get him to Melbourne now instead of transporting him every time he races and let him do what he can in his twilight.

"We didn't take the horse away because Mick doesn't do a good job with him.

"We took it away because it was getting too hard."

Fawdry said Burles' health problems were a factor in the unanimous decision.

The Cleaner has raced 54 times for Burles for 19 wins and more than $1.3 million prize money.

The eight-year-old is one of the most popular horses in training, endearing himself to the public with his tough front-running style.

Burles' laconic character and the horse's constant ferry trips from Tasmania to Melbourne, where he has contested some of the country's best races, have also contributed to his cult status.

Fawdry said the owners held no ill-will towards Burles, who has expressed his devastation at losing a horse who has been his constant companion.

"Not on our part but only history will tell us," Fawdry said.

"We're not the worst fellas in the world."

Fawdry said he was keen for The Cleaner to chase a third successive win in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes next spring.

He was going to remove the gelding from Burles' stable on Tuesday.

"I'm about to go there and get the horse actually. I might get shot when I get there," he said.