TASMANIA will have three runners in the $250,000 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday but bookmakers rate only The Cleaner among the major contenders.
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Most fixed-odds operators have The Cleaner on the second line of betting at $6.50 behind hot favourite Contributer ($1.80).
The other Tasmanians are the Peter Moody-trained Kenjorwood, who is given an outside chance at $21, and Scott Brunton’s top stayer Banca Mo, who is expected to find the 1600 metres too short and is quoted at $61.
Trainer Mick Burles will travel to Melbourne with The Cleaner on Thursday night after missing the horse’s first-up second at Caulfield three weeks ago when he couldn’t get a berth on the Spirit Of Tasmania.
Burles is not allowed to fly due to a medical condition.
‘‘I’m booked on the boat this time so I will be there,’’ Burles said.
‘‘It’s a tough race but he can win it.
‘‘When I first saw the nominations, Contributer was the only horse I was worried about, but they extended the entries and picked up a couple of other good ones.
‘‘It’s a stronger field than last year.’’
The Cleaner led all the way to win last year’s race by almost a length from Mourinho and Foreteller, who are both in the field again on Saturday.
The Dato Tan Chin Nam carries ballot-free entry into the Cox Plate for the winner.
The Cleaner has drawn the middle of the field in barrier 7 and will be ridden by Noel Callow.
EARLY BETTING
1.80 Contributer; 6.50 The Cleaner, Mourinho; 11.00 Big Memory; 13.00 Dibayani; 15.00 Foreteller; 21.00 Bagman, Kenjorwood; 51.00 Gallante; 61.00 Banca Mo; 201.00 Ethiopia, No Tricks.
