He's the pride of the Tasmanian breeding and racing industry and seven year-old
gelding The Cleaner has a shot at this year's Cox Plate after scoring a
typically bold, front-running victory in the Group II MVRC Dato Tan Chin Nam
Stakes at Moonee Valley last month followed by an equally tenacious victory in
the Group III MVRC JRA Cup over the Cox Plate course.The saga of Tassie trainer Mick Burles and his much loved stable star has captivated racing fans all over the country and when he turns for home in front on Saturday, The Cleaner will have the crowd behind him all the way.
A $10,000 Magic Millions Tasmania purchase for his trainer from the Atkins draft, The Cleaner has won 18 races from 43 starts earning some $848,271 for his lucky owners - Jim Lowish, Bill Fawdry and Paul Burt.
A half-brother to Tasmanian stakes-winners Private Nip and Strait Dash, The Cleaner was bred by well-known Tasmanian equestrian identities Owen and Sandra Atkins.
Owen, aged 77, has been involved with the equestrian/thoroughbred industries in Tasmania for over fifty years. He is a former Hunt Master for the Northern Hunt Club, past starter for Tasmanian Turf Club and Clerk of the Course for over 25 years with the Tasmanian Turf Club as well as working behind the barriers.
Sandra has also been involved with the equestrian/thoroughbred industries for over fifty years. A former amateur lady race rider, three day event and show jumping rider, Sandra served as clerk of the course at Tasmanian Turf Club for well over thirty odd years and still competes in competitions at equestrian events throughout Tasmania.
They've bred a lot of horses over the years, but none quite like The Cleaner.
"He was a plain bay horse, nothing too special, but quiet and sensible," recalled Sandra Atkins.
"We teach all of our horses to stand and walk out well. Most of them have a good overstep and move well and so did he, but the others don't race like he does."
The Cleaner is one of seven winners from top Tasmanian producer Dash of Scotch, who was also bred by Mr and Mrs Atkins and died in 2009.
"She just dropped dead in the paddock one day, it was a real shock," said Sandra Atkins.
"She had been so good to us. We only have two mares now, and one of them is her daughter Nip of Scotch, so it's good to be able to keep the line going."
Nip of Scotch is due to foal any day to Needs Further, a half-brother by Encosta de Lago to recent Group I ATC Golden Rose winner Hallowed Crown, that stands at Armidale Stud in Tasmania.
Owen Atkins tells the story of how this family came about through the acquisition of a mare called Tartan Tina.
"My wife was a top three day event rider in the eighties and she had a really good horse that she competed on the mainland up to the level of Olympic selection," Owen Atkins revealed.
"He was an amazing horse, tough and strong with a huge heart score. We saw a mare advertised that was related to him, so decided to buy her.
"She rode like a runaway tractor! We had a lot of horses at the time, so decided to breed with her instead and that was Tartan Tina."
Tartan Tina produced six winners and one of those was Dash of Scotch, who has left seven winners, three of them stakes-winners.
"They are tough and strong, just like The Cleaner and they have 'it', whatever 'it' may be, I wish I knew!" said Owen Atkins.
"Our farm is on the side of a mountain just below the snowline, so the horses are
raised on the hills and work all the time."The Cleaner is the best of seven stakes-winners for ill-fated Savoire Vivre (GB), a minor winner by Sadler's Wells that proved very successful for leading Tasmanian nursery Armidale Stud and was one of the best stallions in Tasmania before his premature death in 2012.
"We won't be at Moonee Valley on Saturday, but we'll be cheering him on and heading to a BBQ at Robin Whishaw's place, Armidale Stud after,so hopefully it will be a celebration. I just want him to run well," Owen Atkins said.
Win, lose or draw this Saturday, The Cleaner has been one of the stories of the spring and we need more like him!
"Neil Kearney from Channel Seven will be talking to us live from Longford before the race on Saturday," said Owen Atkins, who has no regrets on selling The Cleaner for just $10,000.
"It's Tasmania. You take what you can get and he and Mick have just clicked."
Clicked they surely have.
Go, The Cleaner!
