Trainer John O’Shea is hoping Lost And Running can get his A$15 million The Everest (1200m) campaign back on track this weekend when he lines-up in the Gr.2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Lost And Running suffered the first disappointment of his career when finishing eighth in the Gr.2 The Shorts (1100m) at the Sydney track earlier this month, with the Per Incanto gelding previously having won six of his seven starts, and finished runner-up in the other.
He secured his berth in The Everest with his win in the Listed Lukin Star Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill in May, but his connections are now anxious after his first-up subpar performance.
“We have had him quite big all the way along with the view that we didn’t want him peaking until The Everest,” O’Shea told RacingHQ.
“When he missed the kick the other day he ended up in that three-wide line and exposed. Everything that could have went wrong, went wrong for him. He got a little bit keen with exposure and things went pear-shaped.
“He has done plenty of work since that run. To be fair he hasn’t drawn any better on Saturday (7), but the key will be for Hugh (Bowman, jockey) to get him out of the gate and get him into a lovely rhythm, which he didn’t do the other day.”
O’Shea will also be looking for an improved performance from stablemate and fellow Kiwi-bred Lion’s Roar when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) on the same card.
The Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) winner hasn’t flattered in his two starts this preparation, finishing ninth in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) first-up before running eighth in the Gr.1 George Main Stakes (1600m).
“You couldn’t be confident on the strength of his performance the other day at Randwick because it was the worst run of his career,” O’Shea said.
“He ended up in the centre of the track, where you didn’t want to be on heavy ground, which he doesn’t like.
“He has finally drawn a gate (3), which he probably hasn’t done for 12 months, and it gives him the opportunity to race in a more forward position.
“He gets the blinkers. He is a Randwick Guineas winner and meets Mo’unga four-kilos better off. He would only have to produce his best on Saturday to be in the finish of the race.”
O’Shea, in conjunction with good friend Jason Abrahams of Champion Thoroughbreds, purchased Lion’s Roar from the Book 2 draft of Bill Gleeson’s Wellfield Lodge for $65,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling sale.
