Vale Mick Burles

Tasmanian trainer Mick Burles, famous for his association with The Cleaner (Savoire Vivre {GB}), has passed away aged 70.

Burles, who was based at Longford, south of Launceston, had battled emphysema for over a decade.

The association between Burles and The Cleaner was legendary. The tough as teak cult hero, famous for his front-running style, won the G2 Dato Tan Chin Nam S twice and contested two G1 Cox Plates.

He won 19 races in a 58-start career earning over $1.3m in prizemoney, almost all of the journey was Burles.

"He definitely became my best mate, I love that horse, he was an out-and-out champion and came around right at the perfect time for me," said Burles.

Burles retired from training in May last year, citing declining health. The Cleaner currently resides at Living Legends on the outskirts of Melbourne.

Autumn sunset looms for star colt

Managing owner John Messara has conceded that The Autumn Sun (Redoute's Choice) is likely to head to the paddock after his hard-fought win in the G1 Rosehill Guineas on Saturday, with a decision on his racing future to be made in the next fortnight.

The Autumn Sun claimed his fifth Group 1 success, fighting his way past Arrogant (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) to win narrowly on Saturday.

“He has had two gut busters now,” Messara said on the Big Sports Breakfast show.

“I am expecting a call to give him a spell really that’s what I think he will want to be doing."

“He’s had three runs this prep, two Group 1s and a Group 2 and he’s won them all but they have been tough runs."

Whether that means that racegoers have seen the last of him isn’t confirmed, but Messara admitted the temptation is there to send him to stud in 2019.

“I think he is going to be a very popular sire – he doesn’t have to do anything more,” he said.

“We’ve had a look at our broodmare band and we have already identified 40 mares we are going to be sending him. They are some of the very best mares we have got."

“There’s a lot of interest, a lot of people ringing up to buy shares in him."

“The other part owner lives in Hong Kong and I wrote him a note last night saying we have to get together and have a chat about this – I’m waiting to have a chat to him. “

Cummings waits on Avilius

James Cummings will decide early this week whether G1 Ranvet S, winner Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), will head towards to next week's G1 Kia Tancred S or be sent to the paddock for a well-earned rest.

Avilius collected his first Group 1 win at Rosehill Saturday in impressive fashion, but there is no guarantee he will back-up over the longer 2400m.

“History is against him backing as a winner of the Ranvet in to the Tancred,” Cummings told RSN.

“Since they did change the programming of those two races it has proven to be extremely difficult for a horse to win on the seven day back up and ultimately, I’m aware there will be no Winx next preparation."

“So it is very tempting to put that horse in the paddock and worry about races she would have otherwise been targeting."

“Alternatively I expect he would start favourite in the Tancred next week and if he is right and he is going to be in the paddock next Monday anyway, there could be a strong argument mounted that the horse could take his place there and it would do him no harm."

“He has had four runs this campaign, the next few days will be crucial for the horse and if he is giving us any sign that it is going to be too much, we will be patient like we have been patient with other horses in the past.”

Cummings won’t be present if Avilius does back-up as he will be at the Dubai World Cup as a guest of Godolphin's owner Sheikh Mohammed.

Redzel tipped to rebound

Co-trainer Peter Snowden believes Redzel (Snitzel) can bounce back from Saturday's poor performance in the G1 Galaxy and be a legitimate contender in the G1 TJ Smith S. in two weeks.

Redzel was beaten 6.4l into eighth on Saturday, one of the poorest performances of his 31-start career. But Snowden told Racenet that the run can be forgiven and the 6-year-old could rebound quickly.

“Redzel got a bit of a bump and lost two lengths and never recovered,” Snowden said. “It’s pretty hard to pick up with such a big weight on your back and to try to get going again."

“Having the weight he had was like carrying 70kg on that heavy Rosehill track."

"The TJ is a different race in a fortnight. The horse is fine it will be a different race in a fortnight at the weights.”

Artiste ready for stakes challenge

Co-trainer Andrew Forsman believes Artiste (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) can measure up to stakes company after a hard-fought win in Saturday's Drymix Cement Bay Of Plenty Cup (2100m) at Tauranga.

The 5-year-old mare, a winner of four of her past seven starts, is ready to target black type and will head to the G3 LJ Hooker Manawatu Breeders’ at Awapuni on April 5 .

“That was a really gutsy win that was set up by a perfect ride,” Forsman, who trains in partnership with Murray Baker, said.

“She has really strengthened up during this campaign and is reaping the benefits of that now."

“While she is going so well, we will press on with her. I would think a tilt at some black-type is the obvious choice and the race at Awapuni sets up nicely as it’s against her own sex over a good distance for her."

“She seems to handle most tracks, so if we do get the rain then I wouldn’t think it would disadvantage her at all.”

Viddora Dubai preparation unchanged

Lloyd Kennewell won't change his approach to preparing his star mare Viddora (I Am Invincible) ahead of Saturday's $2.28m G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai.

Viddora, a dual Group 1 winner in Australia, arrived in Dubai last week and all has progressed well for the 6-year-old heading into her first international assignment.

"For me as a trainer I’m preparing her like I would for any race except it’s in another country,” Kennewell told the Herald Sun.

“For me personally, I’ve got to be excited about having my first runner in another country on a night where there is $35 million in US dollars being distributed."

“She’s been working well and she’ll have a good gallop on Tuesday morning. If things go well for her in the next seven days, I’m expecting a good run,” he said.

Noble Boy earns wildcard

Noble Boy (Bon Hoffa) secured his spot in the Newhaven Park Country Championships final with his fifth win in six starts in the wildcard race at Muswellbrook on Sunday.

The Todd Blowes-trained 4-year-old, ridden by Hugh Bowman, assumes favourtism for the $500,000 final at Randwick on April 6 after charging home late to win by 1.5l.

"It was heart in mouth sort of stuff there. At the 200m I was a bit worried, Safe Landing gave a good kick, but he toughed it out, it was a good win," Blowes said.

"He's just a big horse and he appreciates a bit of give."