The Cleaner has won the past two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and is unbeaten over the mile at Moonee Valley but it will prove his "defining race" for the spring when he steps out on Saturday.
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Now in the care of Peter Gelagotis and a nine-year-old, The Cleaner will look to return to the winner's circle for the first time since this race last year. In that time he has had a serious injury and a change of stables.
Gelagotis' racing manager and brother Manny said there are no excuses on Saturday.
"People seem to have a preconceived idea about him being finished when we got him. We were quite happy with his first run for us. Steve [Arnold] thought he went well and he has certainly been better for it," Gelagotis said. "When we got him he had to rehab him from the injury and this is the best he has been and we are expecting him to run well.
"He gets his favourite track and trip and it will tell us where we are going in the spring because he is still a pretty special horse.
"A good run and we keep going on the group 1 path if not we step it back a bit, there are still plenty of races for him."
The Cleaner could not take up his usual role resuming in the Lawrence Stakes, when the speedy Lord Of The Sky took him on in front. The nine-year-old copped a check in the straight but dropped out to only beat three home. It will be different on Saturday as it looks as if he will to get things his own terms.
"I think that will be important for him because he races best when he can set the tempo and make them chase him," Gelagotis said. "We have seen how strong he is at the end of this race twice when he is out in front.
"He was driven mad by the other horse last time and they just went too quick.
"I think he is not the outsider that the bookmakers have him."
The Cleaner is a $14 chance to complete a hat-trick of Dato Tan Chin Nams in an open contest where former Japanese galloper Tosen Stardom is the $6 Ladbrokes favourite.
He had to have a gallop in front of stewards on Thursday to be passed fit to run after bleeding while in quarantine for The Championships in autumn.
Lawrence winner Miss Rose De Lago and The United States share the second line of betting at $6.50 , while Mahuta and Suavito have admirers at the $7.50 and $9.50.
