Promising filly The Black Cloud is the most favoured of Joe Pride’s three runners in the Taylor Constructions Handicap at Randwick, but he isn’t sure that markets have got it right.
The winner of her first two starts, The Black Cloud split Wallenda and subsequent Group 1 placegetter Stefi Magnetica when runner-up at her only other appearance in February and is an early $3.60 favourite for Saturday’s 1000m race.
However, Pride cautions that the three-year-old hasn’t shown the same speed and sharpness in her two trials that she did in her first three race appearances and could find herself in the unfamiliar position of having to chase down the leading throng.
“She has come back a lot more relaxed this time around,” Pride said.
“She didn’t trial as I thought she would have, she didn’t trial as a real fast sprinter, so I’ve put her in over 1000 (metres) and she will probably be ridden just off the speed.”
The Black Cloud will be joined in the race by barn mates Testator Silens and Wild Botanica, both relatively recent additions to the stable.
Testator Silens ($17) usually races well fresh, although Pride expects him to be better over slightly further, while first emergency Wild Botanica ($7.50) is the horse he feels is most suited on Saturday – if she can gain a start.
“They are so different those three horses,” he said.
“Testator Silens, obviously later on for him, but he will run well.
“Of the two mares, the one on the spot who has trialled up really well is Wild Botanica. I think she might be the one.”
The Taylor Constructions Handicap (1000m) looks one of the more intriguing races on the Randwick program with nine of the 14 runners and two of the four reserves on-speed horses.
Among them is the resuming Mogo Magic, whose only defeat in six starts came in last year’s Kosciuszko, and flying filly Passeggiata for Bjorn Baker.
