With the near-certainty of a heavy Randwick track on Saturday and no sign of the wet weather abating in Sydney, John O’Shea has opted to send two of his best sprinters to Melbourne.
Lost And Running was set to be one of the drawcards for Saturday’s Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick but was not among the final acceptances when fields were declared on Wednesday.
O’Shea confirmed the multiple stakes winner had already arrived in Melbourne where the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday week would be his target.
Hugh Bowman will make the trip from Sydney to ride him at 55.5kg.
“It’s just too wet for him,” O’Shea said.
Stablemate Quantico has also arrived in the southern capital after a frustrating start to his preparation.
He was an early favourite for his scheduled resumption in the Southern Cross Stakes last month but was scratched after he knocked himself in his box, then O’Shea had to pull the pin on a start in last weekend’s Liverpool City Cup due to the wet track.
He will join Lost And Running in the Newmarket with Kerrin McEvoy booked to partner him at 52kg.
O’Shea will have just one runner at Randwick on Saturday, talented mare Le Gai Soleil who is chasing some valuable black-type in the Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m).
The daughter of Tavistock has won five of her eight starts on rain-affected tracks, but significantly her best performances have been early in her preparation.
The five-year-old was a strong first-up winner at Randwick last month and goes into the race with three-weeks between runs, although O’Shea was hoping the track could improve from its heavy 10 rating.
“It’s not ideal but we just turn up and see what we can come up with,” he said.
“She’s got a good record early (in her campaign).”
McEvoy will ride the mare, who has opened a $3.20 favourite.
