LIGHTLY-raced galloper Thunder Cloud stormed into calculations for this year’s Warrnambool Cup with a dogged victory in a $125,000 restricted race at Flemington on Saturday.
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Having his first start for Ciaron Maher – after being trained by disgraced trainer Darren Weir – Thunder Cloud fought off Antah and Mr Money Bags to register his sixth win from 21 starts.
Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, said the five-year-old seemed an ideal Warrnambool Cup runner.
“Thunder Cloud came to us in great condition from the Weir stable,” he said. “He was very fit. I’ve never won a Warrnambool Cup but I would love to win one and I think this bloke may fit the category.
“He’s got good form in races over 2000 metres or longer. I’m very confident he’ll appreciate the 2350 metres of the Warrnambool Cup. We’ll work out a preparation with that race in mind.”
This year’s Warrnambool Cup, which carries stake-money of $250,000, will be run on May 2.
Meanwhile, Maher was excited with the debut run of Charleise, who ran third in a $125,000 two-year-old listed race.
“Charleise is now a stakes placed filly,” he said. “It’s a great result for her owners to get black type with her at her first start. She’s a lovely type of filly.
“We just thought we would roll the dice on the back of a nice trial at Cranbourne. There’s plenty of improvement in her and with a bit of time she will develop into a very good mare.”
Charleise picked up more then $12,000 in prizemoney with the minor placing.
