Fourth in The Everest and second in the Classique Legend, Lost And Running was the class act in Saturday’s $1million The Hunter at Newcastle, and it showed.
Sitting just off the speed, the John O’Shea-trained gelding was set down to an all-out drive at the 300m by Hugh Bowman. The Kris Lees-trained mare Wandabaa (Wandjina), fleetingly looked like she may break her 66 week run of outs. However, Lost And Running kept up a strong gallop to defeat Wandabaa by a length and a quarter with Australian Bloodstock’s the highly-touted import Top Ranked (IRE) (Dark Angel) a half-length further back in third.
A 5yo son of Per Incanto (USA), Lost And Running advanced his record to seven wins and two seconds from twelve starts with earnings of $2,219,100.
“He has continued to raise the bar, and we were ultra-confident here today. The draw didn’t worry me too much, especially with that big headwind.
“He is a horse that likes room and you would have seen once I turned for home, he looked under pressure, but once he balanced up and changed legs, he extended away and won with the authority that we expected him too.
“He is a very exciting horse for next year.
“He was the only horse out of The Everest and that form has stood up in Melbourne and Sydney.
“We obviously had a healthy respect for the English horse (Top Ranked) but to come over here and take on a seasoned campaigner like Lost And Running was a big ask, but he has obviously run well too.
“The Hunter has certainly stamped itself as a race for future stars.”
Bred in New Zealand by bred by JML Bloodstock, Lost And Running was consigned by Blandford Lodge to the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where John O'Shea purchased him for $40,000.
Lost And Running’s dam Dreamlife (Danroad) failed to flatter in three career starts. However, she is a sister to the Group III winner Kiss Me Ketut and a half-sister to Listed stakes-winners Fast Love (Fastnet Rock) and A Chance To Dream (Volksraad).
Danroad’s stocks as a broodmare sire have never been higher. The son of Danehill is the sire of the dam of the $14million earner, Melbourne Cup heroine Verry Elleegant.
Tartan Meadow Bloodstock purchased a full-brother to Lost And Running for $210,000 at Karaka last year.
After foaling a Per Incanto (USA) filly last spring, Dreamlife was covered by Savabeel.
Little Avondale Stud’s Street Cry (IRE) stallion Per Incanto (USA) stands this season at a fee of $25,000.
