3 minute read
Four days after coming out of his race on vet grounds, promising three-year-old Lord Of Cloud looked in great nick and gave absolutely no cause for concern at his barrier trial on Thursday.
The Niagara colt was scratched from Sunday’s Association of Racehorse Trainers Singapore Class 3 race over 1400m after he was found to be lame on the off-fore.
In Thursday’s barrier trial, the noted backmarker settled at the rear for regular partner Troy See before finishing fourth to the James Peters-trained Gran Torino (Olivier Placais) just over six lengths astern, striding out fluently to the line.
Trainer Young Keah Yong said that after Lord Of Cloud overcame that minor hiccup that caused his withdrawal on Sunday, he straightaway went looking for another race for the two-time winner (first win came under the care of his original trainer Leticia Dragon).
But given his charge had missed one race, the first full-year handler was also keen to top off his fitness level with a barrier trial in the interim.
“He was a bit sore on Sunday, but it was nothing major. We’ve treated him and he’s recovered quickly as you could see from today’s trial,” said Young.
“I’ve found a Class 3 race over 1700m on Polytrack for him next Friday (July 6), but he needed one final gallop to make up for the race he missed on Sunday.
“I told Troy to give him an easy trial and just give him a bit of a squeeze in the straight. He’s not a 1000m horse and he did well to finish where he did.”
Lord Of Cloud’s last run came in the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) in which he came out as a hard-luck story, even if it is unlikely he would have beaten the winner Mr Clint.
Looking all poised to unleash his trademark turn of foot at the 300m, he was making inroads along the rails when he was checked twice by Tesoro Privado. He also raced tight on the inside of Terrific in the concluding stages, to eventually run seventh 5 ¼ lengths off the winner.
“He was unlucky in the Guineas, but that’s racing. We’ve moved on and I was always keen to test him over more ground,” said Young.
“From the way he finishes off his races, I think he can run over a bit of ground, but it will still be a big test for him next Friday.”
Lord Of Cloud actually ran in all three Legs of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, coming up with a mixed bag of results. After an eye-catching sixth to Be Bee in the first Leg, the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m), he was as good as a non-starter in the next Leg, the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) when he bucked around like a bronco shortly after despatch, losing many lengths to run last.
Lord Of Cloud did not show the same unruly tendencies at his next start, prompting connections to believe he overreacted to apprentice jockey Noh Senari’s small saddle on that day.
