Best of mates together again
WORDS could barely describe what transpired when veteran thoroughbred trainer Mick Burles reunited with his famed galloper The Cleaner.
The two had not seen each other for almost two years. The Cleaner rushed to Burles and ploughed his nose into his former trainer’s jacket pocket in search of a carrot while Burles thrust his head into the horse’s chest and emerged with tears rolling down both cheeks.
“It is so good to see the old horse and a day doesn’t pass without me thinking about him,” Burles said.
“I got a bit choked up when I saw him and I reckon I saw a tear in his eye too.
“When I was training him I used to put a couple of carrots in my jacket pocket every time I’d go into his yard and he’d head straight for the pocket to try and get the carrots, so there’s no doubt he knew who I was when he saw me.
“He looks magnificent and I reckon with a bit of work he could go back racing and still win races.”
Burles was amazed at how well his former star galloper looked after 15 months of residing at Living Legends in Melbourne where he spends his days roaming lush pasture and being ogled by thousands of visitors at the tourist attraction that houses a number of former turf heroes.
Burles and The Cleaner spent three years in the national racing spotlight courtesy of the horse’s feats in Group and Listed events.
But when the owners snatched the horse from Burles to have him trained in Victoria near the end of his racing career it sent shockwaves through the racing industry that led to conflict between the trainer and the owners that spilled into the public arena.
But it seems time has healed all wounds with the owners, Bill Fawdry, Jim Lowish and Paul Burt joking with Burles at yesterday’s launch of a new bonus scheme for Tasmania’s breeders.