In a disappointing turn of events, jockey James McDonald has lost one of his key rides for Saturday’s Golden Slipper card with Lost And Running withdrawing as a final acceptor in The Galaxy. The announcement was made after trainer John O’Shea informed Racing NSW stewards on Wednesday morning that the horse was experiencing filling in the near fore pastern, leading to the decision to miss the $1 million Group 1 race.
Lost And Running had initially been a strong favourite in early betting for the 1100m contest after an impressive performance during trials at Randwick last week, where McDonald guided the six-year-old to a victory in his 740m heat. However, this setback has dashed hopes of a strong performance at the highly anticipated race.
The gelding had not raced since finishing seventh in the Nature Strip Stakes in the spring of 2021. Prior to this, he had won the Premiere Stakes, elevating him to second favourite for The Everest. However, a last-minute lameness meant he was unable to compete in the race.
Despite this setback, McDonald still boasts a strong book of rides on Saturday, with favourites Anamoe (George Ryder), Cylinder (Golden Slipper), and Pericles (Rosehill Guineas) among his top picks. It remains to be seen how Lost And Running will recover from this setback, but the team will be hoping for a speedy return to form in the near future.
