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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Joe Pride hasn’t given up hope that talented mare The Black Cloud can earn another shot at black type with a win at Randwick on Saturday he says but she needs to put her hand up soon.

Trainer Joe Pride (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The Black Cloud started her career with a flurry, winning four of her first six starts highlighted by a win at Flemington in open three-year-old company that had Pride thinking the step to stakes level was elementary.

But three placings from her next seven starts has the trainer placing a level of importance on the ATC Thank You Trainers Handicap (1100m) as something of a crossroad.

“It’s a big day for her, we’ve got to make something count before this carnival starts,’’ Pride said.

“If she doesn’t get a win on Saturday it’s only getting harder from here on in.

“She has fallen short of the mark that’s for sure. I had an expectation she would have won a stakes race by now, not only she hasn’t won a stakes race she hasn’t won a race since Flemington.

“There’s been some frustrating placings but hopefully she can turn it around.”

The four-year-old has been runner-up in her two starts this preparation, at Canterbury and Caulfield, and in similar circumstances where she’s looked the winner but had it snatched from her by a swooper.

Pride said it’s clear she’s racing well but believes the key to why she hasn’t won since June last year is in not quite making the physical progression like stablemate In Flight.

“I think I can explain why she hasn’t gone on with it like I thought she would,’’ he said.

“What three-year-olds need to do, to state the obvious, is grow and develop and she really hasn’t grown that much.

“When you look at her she’s not a lot different to what she was 12 months ago.”

All that aside, Pride said he feels The Black Cloud, $6.50 with TAB on Friday, is well placed in Saturday’s race so there are plenty of positives to say a breakthrough is within her reach.

“I scratched her out of last week and I’m glad I did, she’s done well since Melbourne and the four weeks between runs is good for her,’’ he said.

“She’s a really good fresh mare so I think I’ve got the right race for her.

“Without knowing how the track is going to play and how much rain we’re going to get on race day I would suggest it looks a nice set up.”

If The Black Cloud is good enough to win she’ll need to get past in-form stablemate Storm The Ramparts who backs up after a narrow defeat in open company at Rosehill last week.

He’ll carry 61.5kg as he chases a fourth win for the campaign and Pride said there’s no reason to think he couldn’t go on with the job.

“The more rain that falls on the day the better for him. He’s a handy horse and he’s done a good job going through the grades,’’ he said.

Former Kiwi mare Aberlour posted her first Australian win at Randwick two weeks ago and Pride said a repeat performance is expected in the Mostyn Copper Handicap (1600m).

The Black Cloud runs second at Canterbury on June 9

He’s adamant the four-year-old, who won twice at stakes level across the Tasman, will lead again and says she hasn’t gone backwards.

“She’s quick and that’s the way we like riding her,’’ he said.

“I feel pretty comfortable now she’s broken through and her confidence is up she can do it again.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting