Arguably Sydney’s most progressive sprinter, Lost And Running has returned to John O’Shea’s Randwick stable with his trainer adamant the horse is back better than ever.
The gelding has built an imposing record with six wins from seven starts, capturing the attention of Everest slot holders the TAB which have snapped him up to represent them in the $15 million feature.
Lost And Running was spelled after claiming the Listed Luskin Star Stakes at Rosehill in May, a race that has proven to be a strong form reference with Trekking, Osborne Bulls and Clearly Innocent all winning it and running competitively in the Everest the following spring.
O’Shea said Lost And Running was shaping up well and would trial in the middle of August.
“He was always a horse that just needed a bit of time. He has improved dramatically each preparation and this one is no different,” O’Shea said.
“He’s not far off a trial. He trials on the 20th (of August) so everything is starting to come to hand for him.
“We’re really looking forward to the next few months with him.”
With an Everest slot booked, O’Shea is under no pressure to showcase Lost And Running’s talents and can instead plot a path to the October 16 race to best suit the horse.
The five-year-old will follow the same path Everest winner Classique Legend took 12 months ago, launching his campaign in The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 18.
“He will kick off in The Shorts, second-up into the Premiere and then into the Everest,” O’Shea said.
The emergence of Lost And Running has been the icing on the cake to a terrific season for O’Shea who has spent the past couple of years rebuilding his stable after ending his stint as head trainer for Godolphin.
With the foundations laid, he is looking forward to the future.
“I’d say it’s nearly complete,” O’Shea said of the rebuild.
“Most importantly, when we are going to the races, the horses are running really well. We’ve got a good strike rate and it’s been a nice year.”
