Pride in performance: Sydney trainer eyes Flemington double with King Of The Castle and The Black Cloud

Sydney trainer Joe Pride has declared favourites King Of The Castle and The Black Cloud “hard to beat” at Flemington on Saturday.

Sydney trainer Joe Pride has declared King Of The Castle and The Black Cloud “hard to beat” at Flemington on Saturday.

King Of The Castle is a $4.20 favourite with TAB in The David Bourke (1620m), with The Black Cloud ($2.90) atop the market in the VRC Country Race Day Sprint (1100m).

Without a suitable race in Sydney on Saturday, Pride took the opportunity to send The Black Cloud to Melbourne to experience travelling and the Flemington straight.

☁ The Black Cloud returns with a win at Randwick for @PrideRacing and Jay Ford!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/qXX0WWYXYo

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 25, 2024

“There was a 1000m Benchmark 78 (in Sydney) and I wanted to get her out over a little bit further (1100m),” Pride said.

“I always think travelling horses that are shaping up as potential Group horses, giving them a trip away is normally beneficial for them in the future and seeing her down the straight might open up some opportunities.

“She’s a nice filly, makes her own luck, puts herself up in the mix and she’ll do that again on Saturday.”

* Aaron Mills’ tips, analysis for Flemington on Saturday

In a sign of intent, Sydney jockey Jay Ford has joined The Black Cloud in Melbourne.

“Jay was really keen to stick with her so I gave him that opportunity,” Pride said.

“I could’ve easily found a Melbourne jock for her but I offered it to him a couple weeks ago and he wanted to come and ride her.”

The Black Cloud has won three of five starts and not missed a place.

She was runner-up in a 1200m race at Rosehill last February, splitting Wallenda, $16 outsider at Flemington, and Stefi Magnetica, who won the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap last Saturday in Brisbane.

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“I’m still even dubious at her at 1200m, if you watch that race at Rosehill she had them beaten and then inside the last 50m Wallenda grabbed her and Steffi Magnetica was making ground,” Pride said.

“If that race had been 1100m she would’ve won quite easily.”

The Black Cloud has won and been runner-up the past two starts at 1000m.

“If she does the little things right, travels down well, and gets down the straight all right, she’s clearly the horse to beat,” Pride said.

Travelmate King Of The Castle should be equally “hard to beat” with Blake Shinn aboard.

“He loves the mile, loves dry tracks,” Pride said.

“His two runs back have been excellent, so he looks very hard to beat.”

Originally published as Pride in performance: Sydney trainer eyes Flemington double with King Of The Castle and The Black Cloud