Joe Pride has opted for patience with The Black Cloud, hoping the extra week off translates into victory at Randwick this Saturday to round out her four-year-old season.

The mare was originally entered in last week’s Schweppes Sprint (1100m) but was scratched after drawing the outside barrier. This weekend, she starts from gate four in the ATC Thank You Trainers Handicap (1100m).

Having placed second in both runs this campaign, Pride is optimistic The Black Cloud can finally break through.

“She has been going well without winning and that has been a bit frustrating,” Pride said.

“I want to make the next one count for her so I thought this race should be softer.”

The Black Cloud had an impressive early career, winning four of her first six starts, but hasn’t scored since June 2023. Still, her recent efforts suggest she’s close to returning to form, including a solid second at Caulfield when narrowly beaten by Sixteen Rounds.

Pride noted she handled the interstate travel well and believes there is still untapped potential.

“She probably hasn’t quite gone on with it to be fair,” he said.

“She won down at Flemington in the winter of last year, Jay (Ford) got off her and said she was a stakes horse every day of the week.

“He was riding In Flight at the time and he was convinced The Black Cloud was better but that’s probably not the case anymore.”

In Flight, now spelling, had a strong start to her own career with a Sydney hat-trick and has gone on to claim black-type success in her last two outings at Randwick and Caulfield.

Pride has a second runner in Saturday’s race with Storm The Ramparts, who lines up after finishing a close second to Romeo’s Choice in the Schweppes Sprint last week.

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