Form expert Daniel O’Sullivan has Contributer on top of his 2015 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes tips, but he believes that The Cleaner is the value selection in the Group 2 event that will be held at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The Cleaner has the chance to cause a boilover in the 2015 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
The Cleaner returned to racing with a very close second behind Mourinho in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 15 and O’Sullivan told RSN that he expects the popular galloper will have taken plenty of improvement out of the run, which should allow to replicate a performance similar to what he produced when he won the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) 12 months ago.
“I think that The Cleaner offers plenty of appeal here,” O’Sullivan said.
“I think he was ridden too slow first-up, he rated quite well and he comes up to 1600 metres here fitter and at Moonee Valley where he has produced his best ratings over this track and distance.
“He will be out in front controlling the race, Noel Callow knows the horse well and providing he can get off the fence and wind up, I think he is going to give a great sight.
“He is around that $6 or $7 mark, but I think he is more like a $5 chance.
“He is hardly a certainty, but there is definitely a little edge there.”
Contributer has been backed into 2015 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes odds of $1.75 and O’Sullivan admits that the High Chaparral entire is the horse to beat, but he is unsure whether he wants to throw his support behind the five-year-old at his current quote.
O’Sullivan believes that Contributer will be tested by a hot speed that he did not encounter during any of his three race wins during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and he is happy to watch his top selection run around without his support.
“I think the price is fair, but I don’t know if I want to be charging in at that price,” O’Sullivan said.
“He is first-up off an injury, there is a big difference between trials and a 1600 metre race that could be run at a strong speed.
“I am a huge fan of the horse and he has a clear edge of two lengths over this field, but all of his good runs have been in races with a moderate to even pace and the horse has a phenomenal turn-of-foot, so he can cruise along when the button is pushed.
“This race will be run different to what he has been used to in that regard where the pressure might be put on from the 800 and he will have to be put under pressure to chase.
“There is a slight little unknown there and we want to see how he reacts in that circumstance.”
Contributer remains a dominant favourite in the 2015 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes betting at Ladbrokes from The Cleaner ($6.50), Mourinho ($6.50), Big Memory ($12) and Dibayani ($13).
