The Cleaner, who will be the first Tasmanian-trained horse to compete in a Cox Plate, reeled off amazing sectional times at the Longford racecourse, near Launceston, and according to his trainer, Mick Burles, the seven-year-old has never been better.

The Cleaner has not started since winning the Japan Racing Association Cup at Moonee Valley on September 26 but connections are confident the horse relishes having his races spaced.

The tough front-running stayer rounded out his Cox Plate program with a 1000-metre workout, finishing off with a cracking final 400 metres in 21.68 seconds.

"The horse is in a very good place mentally and physically, so now all I have to do is hold him together until race day," Burles said.

After walking a lap of the Longford track The Cleaner quickened and had trackwatchers stunned by the strength of the work.

"Because he galloped next to the rail, I thought he might break 22 [seconds] for the last 400, so to do what he did proves he's ready to run the race of his life," Burles said.

The rags-to-riches story will continue on Thursday when he leaves his Longford stable mid-afternoon with a police escort.  Well-wishers are expected to line Anstey Street, where he is stabled.

It is understood many Longford parents have signed forms requesting their children be allowed out of school early so they can participate in the street parade as the horse is floated to Devonport, where he will travel to Melbourne on the Spirit Of Tasmania.

"It's just fantastic. Because a lot of these children feel they have some ownership in the horse, and that's great," Burles said.

The amazing track gallop would be far from welcome news for corporate bookmakers, as The Cleaner's Cox Plate odds have tumbled from as much as $201 to around $14.

But he must overcome European three-year-old Adelaide, from the  if he is to win the Cox Plate.

In fact, The Cleaner and Adelaide, who come from contrasting backgrounds, have been the medium of huge support in early Cox Plate betting, especially in the last month.

Racing Post correspondent Tom Kerr, covering the spring carnvial for Europe's most influential racing paper, said the Australian racing public should respect Adelaide.

"I'd be very confident about his chances. But what has amazed me is his price was once $14 and now it's into $6, and that's a but skinny.

"But it's reflective of the confidence the stable obviously have in him. He seems to have travelled well and I think he's a perfect 2000 metre horse."

But Kerr is concerned about Adelaide's awkward barrier draw - gate 13 in the 14-horse field.

"It's a very, very wide gate and that would be a concern. But the jury is still out on what impact that gate will have on Adelaide's chances of winning the Cox Plate," he said.

But Kerr remains "quietly confident" that Adelaide will finish in the first two and believes favourite Fawkner is the testing material.