NewsBite

Mick Burles blames viruses on The Cleaner’s uncharacteristic failure behind the Admiral

MICK Burles says he intends to push on with The Cleaner’s summer campaign, despite the an uncharacteristic flop in Launceston on Wednesday night.

Trainer Mick Burles gives The Cleaner a pat after his track gallop. Pic Tasracing
Trainer Mick Burles gives The Cleaner a pat after his track gallop. Pic Tasracing

MICK Burles says he intends to push on with The Cleaner’s summer campaign, despite the an uncharacteristic flop in Launceston on Wednesday night.

The Lion Of Longford finished second last behind Admiral in the Conquering Stakes, but never took up his customary leading role at any stage of the 1400m weight-for-age race.

Burles blamed the “flat” run on a series of recent viruses.

“He was on antibiotics right up until Sunday,” Burles said.

“He’s had four viruses in the last two months, mate, the only bloody viruses he’s ever had in his life.”

The Tasmanian trainer said his eight-year-old gelding had licked the bin clean after the race, was bright as a button on Thursday and was “allowed one bad run in his life”.

The Cleaner will next run in the 1600m weight-for-age Tasmania Stakes in a fortnight before Burles decides on a Gold Coast Magic Millions start.

“We’ve got one on the 23rd here at Mowbray to test him out to see if he’s right, and we’ll see how we go after that,” Burles said.

“I’m not going up there (to the Gold Coast) if he’s not right, I’ll put him straight in the bloody paddock.”

The Cleaner gallops on the course proper at Mowbray — the scene of his heavy defeat on Wednesday.
The Cleaner gallops on the course proper at Mowbray — the scene of his heavy defeat on Wednesday.

Burles admitted it was a last-minute decision to race The Cleaner at Launceston on Wednesday night.

“He needed the run. It’s a fair way between the Cox Plate and the 23rd of December,” he said.

Burles said he had instructed jockey Noel Callow to shun their usual frontrunning tactics to avoid a speed war with One Shot Off, which led by four lengths at one stage before puncturing and finishing last.

“That thing that was in front it just goes like the clappers and stops ... shouldn’t have even been in the race — it’s only a class one horse,” he said.

“Noel said this morning, he rang me this morning, he said, ‘I won’t be letting them do that again, I’ll take them on’.”

Burles said The Cleaner would be headed for a rematch with the new star of Tasmanian racing Admiral at Mowbray.

“He’s a bloody good horse, mate, he’s won 10 out of 15 or something,” Burles said.

“They’ve all been in Tassie, but he’d win in Melbourne.”

Burles said he was confident The Cleaner would race on for some time yet.

“It’s hard to get a horse to win year after year after year every time ... not too many in Australia do it,” he said.

“He’s probably got another year in him yet, he’s only had 50-something starts. I’m not worried, he’ll certainly be racing.”

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/superracing/vic-racing/mick-burles-blames-viruses-on-the-cleaners-uncharacteristic-failure-behind-the-admiral/news-story/b05fa0dac750fdbebccfc79eb3357b7c