'One slip and everyone's out of a job': Racing regulations very Cleary for Joe

Cleary has just the one runner at Canberra on Friday, with Bart set to jump in the Federal Handicap (1300 metres).

It's a tune-up for the $75,00 Moruya Cup (1425m) on Easter Sunday.

Cleary's been adhering to the strict social restrictions to ensure the racing industry can keep going for as long as possible in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

He's only working his 18 horses at Queanbeyan and hasn't ventured to his satellite stable at Moruya at all.

His mum Sue is self-isolating while his dad Frank has just been going to the stables to feed his horses rather than working them.

If anyone in the industry contracted COVID-19 then he fears he'll be looking for work.

"We've just been staying dead quiet. I've been coming to work, doing the work, coming home, staying quiet," Cleary said.

"It only takes one person to stuff it and it stuffs it for everyone. I'm not going to be the villain to do that.

"I really think the penny's dropped with all the participants. I think everyone's taken the right protocols and doing the right thing because the other option is there's no racing and there's no work ... we're all looking for a job."

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It's Bart's first run since a spell and Cleary said the five-year-old gelding needed the run before the Moruya Cup.

The only way he won't be running in the Federal was if the track's "completely bottomless".

"Bart's back. He returns [Friday]. Barring a heavy10 he'll go round. He's got a massive weight (64.5 kilograms)," Cleary said.

"But this is just a top up for the Moruya Cup on Sunday week. That's the perfect race. He races really well at Moruya. He'll benefit plenty from the run.

"It's just a nice stepping stone for future reference."

Cleary said aside from adhering to all the government and industry regulations he was treating these uncertain times as business as usual.

He felt that wasn't the case for a lot of trainers, who were looking to run their horses now incase the industry shuts down.

Cleary pointed to the field sizes at Canberra - there's 90 acceptances across the seven races at Canberra.

"We've just got to keep ticking over and hopefully we keep racing," he said.

"I'm not the sort of trainer to just race the horses for the sake of racing them. A lot of them are just chucking their horses in and I'm not doing that.

"If we get canned you go back to square one and reset their programs. I'm not going to race them just coz everyone's racing. That's why the fields are so big.

"I think a few trainers have hit the panic button, 'We've got to race, we've got to race'.

"At the end of the day I'm running a business. If they're not ready to race then they're not racing. It's simple."

All the tips from former star jockey John Scorse for Canberra Racing's Friday meet.

Best bet: Race 4, No.2 Seventh Seal

At only start he covered a lot of extra ground when not disgraced. Has been gelded and trialled well. Has the best gate as well.

Best roughie: Race 3, No.7 Tri Nations

Super win first up and can go on with it here.

Race one: 7 Inland Retreat, 3 Scarleo, 4 Uprise, 9 Ellana Star.

Inland Retreat finished very strongly over 1000m at Muswellbrook showcase on debut off one soft trial. Will definitely improve and extra distance from good draw makes her the top pick. Scarleo was well fancied both runs this time in and set to peak at third run. Extra distance also a plus. He will go close. Uprise placed three of five this prep including twice this track. He gets another chance here.

Race two: 3 Trust The Process, 1 The Doctors Son, 6 War Deck, 5 First Lady.

Trust The Process won two in a row this track and trip prior to a spell. Big effort when resuming when he flew home. Failed on the heavy track in group company. Will be very hard to beat here. The Doctors Son is a real talent. Wore the blinkers for first time when missed the start three lengths and charged home for second against the race pattern. Could win better races than this with his best manners. War Deck is in top form this prep and has another chance here. First Lady is a very honest mare who is in with some chance here. Mainly exotics.

Race three: 7 Tri Nations, 1 Express Courier, 6 Rent A Rock, 5 Casino Time.

Tri Nations resumed with a patient ride to steam home for a dominant win at Scone. He will take beating here. Express Courier has come back very well this time and well suited to the mile third up. Clearly the danger. Rent A Rock had a very good win first up then straight to class three and held on well. Will keep them honest.

Race four: 2 Seventh Seal, 7 Physcoa, 1 Full Of Fire, 12 Vol Prive.

Seventh Seal had a good effort on debut in strong provincial maiden when very wide throughout. Resumes as a gelding. Trialling well and inside draw gets him the nod here. Physcoa trialled very well in strong heat back in September. Watch market. Full Of Fire placed two of three runs and resumes here. Treat warily here. Vol Prive is an exotics chance. Back in trip from wide draw.

Race five: 9 Revitup Rednut, 12 Eltham Palace, 3 Gretzky, 8 Powerscourt.

Revitup Rednut romped in first up this distance and although widely drawn can repeat the dose if things go her way. Eltham Palace is very fit and very fast and all around the mark this prep. She can utilise the draw and will look the winner at some stage. Gretzky is back to somewhere near his best last start. He can finish powerfully off the hot speed here. Powerscourt is in great form and another who is suited off the speed and good draw.

Race six: 9 Whiskey'n'diamonds, 12 Flora Bel, 14 Mnementh, 5 Bellegano.

Whiskey'n'diamonds' both runs this prep have been super and he can win again here. Should settle midfield and can produce a big finish. Flora Bel was below her best last time but forgive. Drawn to get the right run and her best can win this. Mnementh is lightly raced but plenty of talent. Most impressive at Albury but the wide gate is the worry. Bellegano is a smart mare that was unsuited last time. Give another chance.

Race seven: 2 Bigger Than Thorn, 10 Propose To Me, 1 Azoustic, 5 Candy Bar.

Bigger Than Thorn is a nice type who resumed a gelding and fought strongly to win. Will improve off that and gets the winkers on from ideal draw. Propose To Me put up a good performance to win on debut and will be suited again by extra distance. Can finish off solidly. Azoustic came with a big finish to win his maiden and backed it up when just behind placegetters last time. Candy Bar gets the blinkers first time but widely drawn.