Joe Pride is backing a more favourable setup to help The Black Cloud end her current campaign with a win at Randwick, following a strategic decision to bypass last week’s race due to an awkward draw.

The mare was withdrawn from the Schweppes Sprint (1100m) after drawing wide, and instead lines up this Saturday in the ATC Thank You Trainers Handicap (1100m), starting from barrier four.

With two consecutive runner-up finishes already this prep, Pride is eager for The Black Cloud to 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 mare won four of her first six starts but hasn’t returned to the winner’s circle in over a year. Nonetheless, she’s shown promise this time in, including a close second at Caulfield to Sixteen Rounds.

Despite the dry spell, Pride believes she’s retained her ability and is showing no ill effects from her recent interstate travel.

“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 has since progressed to claim back-to-back stakes wins, underlining the quality Pride once saw in The Black Cloud.

Pride also saddles up Storm The Ramparts in Saturday’s race, who returns after a narrow defeat to Romeo’s Choice in the Schweppes Sprint seven days ago.

To place a bet on the Schweppes Sprint or other key races, check out top Australian betting sites for the best odds.