Impressive first-up winner Lord Of Cloud will be trainer Young Keah Yong’s first Group runner this Friday.

Desmond Koh’s former assistant-trainer has been running his own yard since July last year, but had to wait until January 14 to saddle his first winner Amistad.

The winning momentum has stayed on the up since with four more winners joining the list shortly after, the latest being the same Lord Of Cloud in a Class 4 Non Premier race over 1000m on March 4.

Troy See brings Lord Of Cloud with a well-timed run first-up, picture Singapore Turf Club

The first foal of relative new sire Niagara (x Encosta De Lago) will now be the one to give the 40-year-old handler another milestone in the $250,000 Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m), the first Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge.

Lord Of Cloud raced three times for Leticia Dragon for one debut win and a second place before being transferred to Young and getting off the mark at his first run for his new trainer.

Always in midfield tracking up the hot speed set by Snip, Lord Of Cloud was bustled up for his run coming around the widest at the home turn before putting paid to his rivals with a pulsating finish, though he was inclined to lay in inside the concluding stages.

With no three-year-old a cut above in this year’s batch, Young is heading into his first Group raid with an open mind, but above all, proud to be standing at the threshold of such a significant moment in his young career.

“As he’s a three-year-old and is a progressive type, we thought we had a chance of running a horse in a Group race, so we went for it,” said Young.

“I actually thought the 1000m would be too short for him at his first race for me, but he still ran well. I think the 1200m of the first Leg is still short for him, but fingers crossed, it’ll be okay.

“He won over 1400m for Leticia, and I think that’s his best trip. Still, we’ll see how he goes on Friday before making any plans about the other Legs – one race at a time.”

The Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge continues with the $500,000 Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on April 22 and concludes with the $1 million Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) on May 26.

Young said he had kept the Billion Dollars Stable-owned Lord Of Cloud ticking over since his last win, and though he will be pitted against the likes of much-more high-profile three-year-olds like Yabadabadoo, Mister Yeoh, Be Bee and Nowyousee, he is not writing off his colt’s chances.

“He’s pulled up well after his last run. Yesterday Troy See (race-rider) galloped him and I was satisfied with his work,” said Young who has struck a prolific partnership with See given three (She’s The One, Decreto and Lord Of Cloud) of his five wins were ridden by the leading apprentice jockey.

“My horse has drawn okay in five, but he does not have much gate speed. He won’t go forward, Troy will just settle him where he is comfortable.”

See acknowledged that while it was some feat for Young to produce him first-up, Dragon should not be forgotten as the one who hand-picked the colt and nursed him to where he was.

“The horse did very well with Leticia before and it’s all to her credit for having kept him in such good condition,” said the Singaporean rider.

“She is the one who bought this horse from the New Zealand jumpouts and recommended him to the current owners.

“I’m very happy he was high enough in the ratings to get a spot in the first Leg, but ideally he is a 1600m horse. The mile of the Guineas will be more his go.

“He’s a get-back run-home type of horse. The 1200m may be too short, but he had to run anyway.”

See said he has been working Lord Of Cloud since his only association in a race, but could only say he has not gone backwards as the colt does not show much in trackwork.

“He’s always been a lazy worker. He does not show much and does his best work in races,” he said.

“We’re throwing him in at the deep end. Let’s see how he goes.”