The Cleaner

Looked a treat. Peter Gelagotis turned him out looking great. Spoke to a peter after the races and he is hopeful the owners will retire him. Age has caught up with him. First time I have ever spoken with Peter. I was very impressed with his caring and understanding professionalism.

I don't think it was absolutely a must they retired him after today, his been in pretty good form, but i'm very happy to hear he will be retired, his the last horse i'd want to see something happen too, and frankly you can't really criticize the decision to retire a 9yo.

A sad end.

Should never have taken him away from his mate @ 8.

Sad.

Agree.

And the Horse, he might of switched off the day they took him away from his life long friend.

Apparently Mick Burles has passed. RIP.

Racing is mourning the passing of Mick Burles, who became a national identity and attained cult hero status with his “best mate” The Cleaner.

After battling emphysema for more than a decade, 70-year-old Burles passed away in Tasmania on Saturday.

Burles and The Cleaner had great success, winning 19 races including successive victories in the Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley.

His dying wish was to one day be buried with The Cleaner, the horse that be bought for $10,000 and went on to win almost $1.4million, also becoming the first Tasmanian-trained horse to run in the Cox Plate (2014 & 2015).

The Cleaner, which retired in 2016, is now at Living Legends horse retirement property in Victoria while Burles retired himself last year due to ill health.

The Australian Trainers’ Association has confirmed Burles’ death and says he passed away on Saturday surrounded by his family.

Burles grew up on a dairy farm and his first taste for horse racing came during his days in the Army when he was first encouraged to go to the races and have a bet.

He trained his first winner in 1976.

The Tasmanian trainer was a much-loved part of The Cleaner story and was shattered when his best mate was transferred to a Victorian trainer for the last three starts of his career.

The pair have since been briefly reunited when The Cleaner made a return to Tasmania as part of a breeding tour.

Burles shed tears of joy at the meeting and said there was no doubt in his mind The Cleaner still knew exactly who he was.

Hope they honour his wish when the old boy passes away.  Probably hard though with one in Victoria and on in Tasmania.  He gave us many an interesting contest against horses which didn't know he was a little Tasmanian.  Usually gave them a hiding.