Tasmanian trainer Mick Burles sent stable star The Cleaner off on the right note at Flemington on Saturday as jockey Jason Maskiell labelled the win the most emotional of his career.

The Cleaner will be transferred to Robert Smerdon and Maskiell would love to stick with the gelding after the Tasmanian jockey posted his first Melbourne win in more than two years in the David Bourke Provincial Plate (1610m).

Maskiell's career stalled after a six-month ban for a positive test to an illegal drug.

"This is probably the most emotional win I've had," Maskiell, 22, said.

"It's been about two years since I've ridden here and there has been a lot of down times in there."

The leading Melbourne apprentice in 2009-10, Maskiell said it was special to be able to "bounce back" and win for Tasmanian connections.

"My head at the moment is probably in the best place it's ever been. And just to do it for Tasmanian connections is fantastic," he said.

The Cleaner ($7) took up his usual front-running role and showed courage to hold off Constant Force ($14) by three quarters of a length with Lord Durante ($4.40) another short half head away third.

Burles has prepared The Cleaner to win 13 of his 26 starts and the gelding also finished second in this year's Hobart Cup.

"This is a good goodbye," Burles said.

Burles said The Cleaner shouldn't be underestimated and the switch from his Tasmanian stable to Melbourne-based Smerdon was to give the horse his best chance in Victoria.

The winter meeting featured several horses that could potentially play a role in the spring carnival.

Michael Rodd rates Hai Lil, winner over 1200m, as a Group One filly while Lady Lakshmi's connections are dreaming of getting to the VRC Oaks after her third-straight win in the opening race.

Pago Rock, narrow winner of the All Victorian Sprint Series Heat 8 (1100m), is being aimed at early season stakes races, while trainer Peter Morgan is looking to the Naturalism Stakes with Star Rolling after the improving gelding won the Brian Beattie Handicap (2000m).