Mick Burles’s star Tasmanian galloper The Cleaner stripped fitter second-up at Moonee Valley Racecourse to win the feature race on Saturday taking out the 2015 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes on way to another shot at the Cox Plate.

The Cleaner is set to shorten in futures Cox Plate betting after back-to-back wins in the 2015 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

An eight-year-old son of Savoire Vivre, the 51-start veteran was narrowly beaten in the final stride by a nose first-up when attempting to lead all-the-way in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on August 15.

He was just run down by Mourinho that day but there was nothing stopping The Cleaner from going back-to-back in the $250,000 Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at his preferred track.

After winning last year’s Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes when beating Mourinho home by three-quarters of a length, The Cleaner maintained his flawless four-from-four record over the Moonee Valley mile with another win in the weight-for-age feature this Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

Regular jockey Noel Callow continued his association with the magnificent horse, working his way to lead on the outside before moving across to take the run up the rails.

Kenjorwood tracked second throughout while the Moe-trained Lawrence Stakes winner Mourniho was third on the fence just ahead of the David Hayes & Tom Dabernig-trained Hong Kong import Dibayani.

Odds-on favourite Contributer meanwhile was getting a lovely run settled into fifth with Dwayne Dunn taking his time on the multiple Group 1 winner from the Godolphin stable.

Contributer ($2.20) didn’t look a happy horse around the turn however and failed to finish in the money eventually crossing just behind the winning Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes trifecta three and a quarter lengths away from the winner in fourth.

Once they hit the straight The Cleaner ($5.50) had the kick to hold off the challengers running well clear to beat home Chris Waller’s fast finishing Bagman ($21), who ran second on the back of a 2040m win at the track from a month ago, by one and three-quarter lengths.

Lindsay Park’s last start Lawrence Stakes third placed Dibayani ($9) meanwhile crossed for third again just over two lengths off The Cleaner.

Last year The Cleaner backed up from his Dato’ win with another victory at Moonee Valley in the $200,000 Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m), a title defence in the October 2 feature under the lights on Moir Stakes Night likely again in 2015.

His major aim though is a shot at Australasia’s weight-for-age championship, the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at the Valley on October 24 that he ran ninth to Adelaide in last spring.

Before his Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes success The Cleaner was paying around $51 in early Cox Plate betting odds, a price that is sure to be slashed following the results of the lead-up.

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2015 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Moonee Valley Race 7 – 05/09/2015