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After three lacklustre runs over 1200m, Cloud Shadow turned his form around at his fourth attempt with a shock win in the $20,000 Open Maiden race over 1400m on Sunday.

Unsurprisingly neglected by punters, the $236 shot, however, showed he was in a lot more switched-on mood when he began smartly to follow closer to the speed this time. Ambling along in an ideal stalking role, the Beautiful Crown four-year-old was finally given his head when a wide passage presented itself at the top of the straight.

But all eyes were towards the middle where favourite Well Deserved (Ben Thompson) had his backers cheering when he swept past Glamorous (Michael Rodd) with relative ease at the 250m

But instead of widening the gap lengthwise, the grey did it breadthwise. Noh Senari couldn’t ask for more as he punched Cloud Shadow right through along the rails, going on to finish at the thicker end of the prizemoney by a neck from Well Deserved.

Glamorous held on for third place another length away. The winning time was 1min 24.15secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.

Saimee said that, though not supremely confident, he had been expecting an improved run from the Hong Kong-owned Cloud Shadow (raced by the Magus Equine Stable) on Sunday.

“We’ve been teaching him to race the way we want him to race. He was very green at his first three starts,” said the former eight-time Singapore champion jockey.

“This time round, he was down in class and it was also the first time he had drawn a good barrier. With Noh riding him, I was quietly confident of a better run.”

The in-form Singaporean jockey said the benefit of the three previous starts had Cloud Shadow in a better disposition to be competitive – both physically and mentally.

“It’s the first time he drew a good barrier. He landed in a good spot and was always travelling very well,” said Noh.

“He has been improving with each run and we were just lucky he stayed on for the win.”