The Cleaner has been included in the 2014 Emirates Stakes field and trainer Mick Burles has revealed that he will be instructing jockey Steven Arnold to get the popular galloper to the front as soon as possible in the Group 1 event at Flemington on Saturday.
The Cleaner has the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2014 Emirates Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Arnold tried to ease The Cleaner across to the lead in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), but he got caught three wide in the early stages of the race after Side Glance and Wandjina attempted to press forward and was forced to do plenty of work to find his usual place at the front of the field.
Burles told RSN this morning that he believes The Cleaner will have no trouble finding the lead in the early stages of the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) and is happy for the Savoire Vivre to set a strong tempo out of the gates.
“Not this time over a mile and he is very fresh,” Burles said.
“I reckon he will be in front before they go 100 metres and I will make sure he is because I will tell my jockey to do it this time.
“He tried to ease across at the Valley, but unfortunately he got caught, but he won’t get caught this time.
“It takes him two strides before he finds his feet, but after that he can go hard if I want him too.”
The Cleaner will be having his eighth race start of what has been a lengthy campaign, which began with a close second behind Limes over 1400 meters at Flemington on May 24, but Burles believes that the seven-year-old is holding his condition well ahead of the 2014 Emirates Stakes.
Burles said that The Cleaner has only one serious piece of trackwork since his brave Cox Plate run, but he said that he could not have the seven-year-old any fitter heading into the $1 million race this weekend.
“He has pulled up a treat and I couldn’t be happier with him,” Burles said.
“He had a gallop on Tuesday morning and that was it.
“He did 800 up and he ran his 400 in 21.40.
“It hasn’t worried him at all and he could have gone around 20 minutes after the race again.
“I don’t think you could get fitter horse than what he is.
“I am pretty happy with him.”
The Cleaner is currently available at 2014 Emirates Stakes odds of $13, while Godolphin import Contributer is a narrow favourite from Lucky Hussler ($6), Hucklebuck ($7), Bull Point ($7.50) and Hooked ($7.50).
