Talented young stayer The Cleaner will be gunning for a hat-trick in the upcoming Devonport Cup following impressive victories in the Brighton and Longford Cups.

The Cleaner (4g Savoire Vivre – Dash Of Scotch by Blessington) completed the second leg of the treble in the Longford Cup (1800m) on Monday.  The Mick Burles trained gelding showed his customary speed to lead but didn’t have things all his own way in the first half of the race.

He was taken on in front but left his rivals standing when apprentice Jacques Luxe asked for an effort 400m from home.  The gelding scored by more than four lengths from Lightly Spiced (Fantastic Light) and Uboa (West Quest).

It was The Cleaner’s fifth win from his past six starts and Burles was thrilled to win his home-town cup for the first time.  “I’ve been patient because he was always going to be a late bloomer,” Burles said.  “He’s the best stayer I’ve trained and will be at his peak next week.”

The Devonport Cup (1880m) will be run on the new Tapeta Park surface next Wednesday, January 11.  “He just keeps improving,” Burles added.  “We will make a decision on a start in the Hobart Cup after Devonport.”

The Cleaner is by Armidale Stud resident Savoire Vivre (Sadler’s Wells) and cost $10,000 at the 2009 Tasmanian Magic Millions for a partnership that includes Bill Fawdry, Jim Lowish and Paul Burt.