There were tears, cheers and gasps as the locals watched The Cleaner in his finest moment, crossing from the 14th barrier to take the lead before ultimately dropping back to finish ninth in the Cox Plate, 3.5 lengths behind the winner.

Simon Berry was one of the locals packed into the Queens Arms Hotel before the race yesterday.

"There wouldn't be a person in there that wouldn't have money on The Cleaner at the moment," he said.

"Once we knew The Cleaner had qualified for the Cox Plate that's when it started for the locals.

"He's already a winner as far as we're concerned because he's qualified, he's made it, he's the first Tasmanian to make it into the Cox Plate."

The story of the $10,000 seven-year-old has captivated people across the nation, and put the Longford stables of trainer Mick Burles on the map.

Margaret Flack, the mother of Mick Burles' stable foreperson Mikayla Flack said The Cleaner would always be a legend in the town despite the result.

"He did what he always does and loves to do, he just gave it his all," she said.

"How could you be disappointed? The fact that he got to run in it was enough. There wasn't a great big distance between first and last anyway, so he certainly didn't disgrace himself."

Northern Midlands Mayor Kim Polley said she hoped to present Mr Burles with her mayoral gavel when he returns.

"It's been a magic fortnight here for us. We've had Richard Flanagan winning the biggest prize, and The Cleaner," she said.

"What else could you wish for? It has put us on the world map.

"People from the bush should never be underestimated."