James Mcdonald has described Lost And Running as “pure speed” after the promising sprinter kept his unbeaten record intact with another impressive display at Warwick Farm.
Lost And Running was returning from a knee operation after winning his first two starts by a combined total of almost eight lengths.
He had indicated he was back in top order with two dynamic barrier trial performances and punters sent him out an odds-on favourite for his first-up assignment on Wednesday.
Made to work early from a wide gate, the four-year-old quickened again on straightening and proved a class above his opposition, beating Ocean Emperor by 1-1/2 lengths.
McDonald is excited to see how far Lost And Running can progress and says he is open to yards of improvement.
“Probably everyone expected him to win by further but he was very tradesman-like. He only does what he has to and he’s just pure speed,” McDonald said.
“He is a very exciting horse and for the work he did early, it was pretty incredible how he could accelerate off that.
“He feels very raw underneath you and fitness-wise, he’s just going to come on.”
O’Shea said it had been a team effort to get the horse back to the races and was optimistic about the horse’s future.
“He just does everything so very easily. He’s got a big action,” O’Shea said.
“When he gets out over a bit further you will really see a top horse, but he just needs to learn his craft and season up over the next few months and hopefully we get something towards the end of it.”
Tommy Berry took riding honours with a treble and just missed out on landing half the midweek card when Saigon was edged out by The Irishman in a photo finish to the final race.
Written by Mandy Cottell
