The Cleaner is assured of a start in the Cox Plate after his all the way win in the Dato’Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

He has already developed a cult following similar to Vo Rogue in the early80’s, once he reaches the lead there is no stopping him, he just keeps on going.

The horse that was purchased by his trainer, Mick Burles, for $10,000, when he ran short of cash he sold the gelding to three golfing mates for $5,000 each, “I should have kept a bloody share myself, “ he said.

There was a period when the horse was in the care of Robert Smerdon at Caulfield, but the close environment didn’t suit him, he missed roaming his paddock during the day and being boxed at night.

Nothing is going to change, travelling conditions will remain the same, The Cleaner boards the Princess of Tasmania on Thursday night, arrives Friday morning, back on board Sunday night, and back in his favourite paddock the next day.

The gelding will be back at Moonee Valley for the JRA Cup on Grand Final eve over 2040 metres, the distance of the Cox Plate.

Mourinho was beginning to close rapidly on The Cleaner at the end of the 1600 metres on Saturday.

We will get a better guide if he can run out a strong 2040 metres against the elite company that will oppose him in the Cox Plate.

The Cleaner with his sights on the Cox Plate 

Mick Price was offering no excuses for the defeat of Lankan Rupee in the Group 2 Mitty’s McEwan Stakes.

Price was more stunned than anything else, as so many racegoers were; it looked a case of just having to go around to collect.

As it turned out the gelding didn’t dent his reputation, merely a small scratch that can easily be erased and soon forgotten.

Lankan Rupee appeared to win the start from the outside gate, however, it didn’t take long for Eloping to reach the lead and keep the favourite wide.

Once Lankan Rupee hit the front on the home turn, it looked all over bar the shouting, until Angelic Light appeared on the scene, charging down the outside with the winning margin no more than a short lip.

The win was a huge thrill for the mare’s trainer, Robbie Griffiths; it was the one he so richly deserved after being stricken down with a serious illness a few years ago.

He purchased Angelic Light, more on type than pedigree, she was $30,000 as a yearling, the Group 2 didn’t do her any harm either, she will have a much higher price tag on her now after the win

Angelic Light and Lankan Rupee are likely to lock horns again in the Group 1 Moir Stakes in three weeks time, again at Moonee Valley

Angelic Light ridden by Ryan Maloney

David Hayes is in no hurry to extend Tawteen out any further than 1200 metres, the distance she won over at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

That was just her fourth start, whilst her winning margin was an impressive three and a quarter length; there are not many races about to suit her over the same distance.

Punters got it wrong when they preferred a maiden filly in Pickin’Time to Tawteen, a two time winner from three outings.

Stevie Baster rated the winner to perfection, he had her on the fence when the gates opened and was never bothered thereafter.

“She was our number one for the Blue Diamond, except she continued to go shin sore, there is a nice race back here at (Moonee Valley) in three weeks, her preparation this time will be the shorter races,” said David Hayes.

Tawteen’s win completed a double for the stable with the imported gelding, Wrotham Heath, winning the Jeep Don’t Hold Back Handicap over 2400 metres.

The gelding has been racing consistently; he was by far the preferred favourite when betting opened, with nothing altering after that.

Purple Tiger ran on well without ever looking a definite chance, as for the others Clear Direction was seen to be running on well.

Tawteen with Stevie Baster up old Bac

No Favours For Earthquake

Surely Earthquake wasn’t treated with any favours first up since April with a heavy track at Randwick for the Coolmore Furious Stakes;

You don’t give away a Group 2 lightly at this time of the year, nor do you risk such a great filly in the conditions that were served up at Randwick on Saturday.

There were options; she would have been much better off in a nice warm box, there will be other days that one wasn’t worth the risk.

Moody Machine Rolling On

Leading trainer, Peter Moody, is not afraid to race on far off country tracks; the experience is proving beneficial, as was seen yesterday, with a treble at Wangaratta and a winner at Warracknabeal.

Whilst the stake money is much less in the country than it is in the city, that is not always the point of the exercise, it can sometimes be a confidence booster to some horses.

Local Double

Local trainer, Liz Allbers, stole the show at Wodonga earlier this week when she trained a winning double in successive races with full relations.

The first leg of the double, Prairie Gold, a six year old mare, while her four year old full brother, Prairie Sun, is a four year old gelding, both being by Monde Bleu from Prairie Rose, a descendant of the great Teppo.

Prairie Sun was a bit slicker on his feet than his sister over the same distance of 1100 metres. he ran a second faster.

Clarrie Still Smiling

Clarrie Connors was wearing a broad smile when he left Caulfield after the run of Dear Demi in finishing fifth over 1200 metres, that was nothing more than a pipe opener for the mare who won the Oaks two years ago.

The smile was broader at Canterbury on Wednesday when first starter, This Is Australia, by million dollar sire More Than Ready, led all the way to win in scintillating fashion.

Fresh from a break, the evergreen Jim Cassidy was at his best, rating the colt to perfection.

This Is Australia is an exciting colt, he was bred and raced by John Singleton, he deserves it, he puts a lot into racing and there are not many trainers that can outshine Clarrie.

Kyneton Primed and Ready

Racing returns to Kyneton on Tuesday 23^rd of this month after being in recess during the winter months.

The Macedon Ranges area is renowned for its cold wet winters that being the reason the committee in their wisdom made the decision.

Kyneton has always been a popular racing centre; the Cup fixture between the Melbourne Cup and the Oaks is generally well attended.

The meeting listed for October 14 has been cancelled and the replacement meeting will be Sunday November 30.

Bowman Questioned By Stewards.

Hugh Bowman was questioned by stewards and will face an adjourned inquiry concerning his ride on Snip Spur at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Quizzed about his tactics he conceded it was a error of judgement on his part, Snip Spur finished fourth in the race.

Life Not Meant To Be Easy

Life has not been easy for Heze A Dude, a colt by Kaphero , he was just a few weeks old when his mother died, then the hunt began to secure a foster mother for the new born colt.

Once the foster mother arrived the colt took to her as if she was his real mother, but it never lasted long, the mare was bitten by a snake and he was on his own again.

He has finally made the grade, having raced three times for a third on each occasion, the latest at Mornington yesterday, he has his foot right on the till let’s hope his luck changes