The Cleaner is on top of the 2014 Railway Stakes tips of Adam Blencowe and the leading form analyst believes that the popular gelding will be very tough to beat if he can replicate his Emirates Stakes performance in the Group 1 event at Ascot on Saturday.
The Cleaner is the horse to beat in the 2014 Railway Stakes at Ascot tomorrow. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
The Cleaner has not had a stint in the spelling paddock since he returned to racing in May, but he continues to produce strong performances at the highest level of racing and finished third behind Hucklebuck and Lucky Hussler in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 8.
Blencowe told RSN that The Cleaner gives no impression that he has had enough towards the end of what has been a lengthy campaign and he said that he is happy to back the Savoire Vivre gelding at his current Railway Stakes odds of $4.80.
“So much is obviously depending on The Cleaner and it is really hard to make a quantifiable assessment as to whether he would go off his form,” Blencowe said.
“There is that nagging little doubt in your head that he has been up for so long and he has been running so many massive, brave races from the front.
“He has come of a career peak last time in the Emirates and if he repeated that here would make him a fairly likely winner.
“I don’t think that he could go any better, but his pattern is fantastic and he looks to get to the front without too much trouble here and looks to get the building tempo that he likes.
“I think he is certainly going to be the one that they have to rundown and I have him marked at $4 and if you can get any better than 7/2 than he is one that I would rather have running for me than against me at this stage.”
Respondent ($6) and Elite Belle ($7.50) are the only other horses that are available at single figure Railway Stakes odds, but Blencowe said that he is happy to leave both horses out of his selections and is looking a bit deeper for some value in betting.
Moriarty has been one of the biggest drifters in Railway Stakes betting since the barrier draw was conducted on Tuesday, but Blencowe believes that the imported galloper is capable of playing a part in the finish and he is not ruling the resuming Mr Moet out of his winning chances.
“Mr Moet is interesting because he has won this race first-up and he hasn’t been seen since last summer,” Blencowe said.
“The vibes about him have been very good and we know on his best form that he is very capable and Moriarty is similar.
“Moriarty is probably underrated based on his form and he is a fairly reliable customer and he is certainly going to be competitive.”
The Cleaner ($4.80) remains a clear favourite in Railway Stakes betting markets from Respondent ($6), Elite Belle ($7.50) and Alma’s Fury ($13).
