The Cleaner to travel to Perth for Railway Stakes 2014

The Cleaner has moved to the top of the market for the Railway Stakes in Perth with his owners having a change of heart about a trip to the west.

After he ran third in Saturday’s Emirates Stakes at Flemington, trainer Mick Burles said he wanted to take him home to the lush pastures of Tasmania and get him ready for the autumn.

But after the horse’s owners slept on it, they decided he could make the journey without too much interruption to their future plans.

He is now the TAB’s $5 favourite for the $1 million Group One Railway (1600m) on November 22.

Burles said The Cleaner, who has gained a cult following with his deeds this spring in Melbourne, had pulled up from the Emirates as well as ever.

“While I was content for the horse to have a break the owners have preferred we push on to Perth for the Railway Stakes so that’s now the plan,” Burles said.

A plane will leave Melbourne on Friday carrying several eastern contenders for Perth’s summer racing.

Among them will be the Wez Hunter-trained Smokin’ Joey, seventh in the Emirates, and Moriarty from the Chris Waller stable.

Moriarty, midfield in the Mackinnon Stakes, is headed to the Group One Kingston Town Stakes (1800m) on December 6.

Lankan Rupee will not make the trip for the Group One Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) on Railway Stakes day.

Trainer Mick Price will give Lankan Rupee a rest after his third behind Terravista and Chautauqua on Saturday.

Lankan Rupee has had a mixed Group One campaign with a second to Buffering in the Moir Stakes and victory in the Manikato before his third in the Darley Classic.

Burles said the Railway Stakes would be The Cleaner’s final race for the time being.

He will have one run in Tasmania in February before returning to the mainland where his targets include the Australian Cup in Melbourne and the Doncaster Mile in Sydney.

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