Lost And Running banked more than $2million with just a Listed win to his name, but the son of Per Incanto has few peers in the sprinting ranks and is out to prove it following his win in Saturday’s Group III Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Ridden by Hugh Bowman, the John O’Shea-trained gelding lengthened impressively to defeat a rallying Overpass (Vancouver) by two lengths with Standout (Exceed And Excel) a long-head back in third.
Lumping 61kgs, Lost And Running was makinh his first start since winning the $1million The Hunter at Newcastle last November.
Before that he ran Eduardo to a length and a quarter in the Classique Legend Stakes at Rosehill and was just over two lengths away from Nature Strip when fourth in The Everest.
“He came into us in such wonderful order,” O’Shea said.
“It’s just a matter of going through our routine to have him in the vein of form that he is in at the minute.
“It was incumbent that we had him a little bit further forward this time because he is going to run in a Group One in three weeks.”
“We really want to give him an opportunity to win a race of that calibre because we think he is deserving of it. We will turn up here in three weeks and he will be a fit racehorse and ready to give a good account of himself.”
“I think he learned a lot. We have just been conscious to be very steady with him and let him learn his craft on the run.
“He has got to ten starts and you can expect him to execute better, which he is doing at the moment. He was probably a little bit fresh today but luckily they went at a good gallop, Hugh was able to give him a lovely drop on them and he did the rest.
“He is just doing everything so much better now as he’s got older. His wither really only popped up this spell. If we can continue to keep him sound, he has got a really bright future.”
“He’s got a tremendously good record and he has performed at the best levels now and to win a race of this calibre with 61 kilos is true testament to his ability.”
Hugh Bowman has little doubt there is a Group 1 in the 5yo gelding.
“He’s a class horse who had the top weight because of his record,” Bowman said.
“He’s a genuine G1 horse in my opinion. We expected a good performance. I didn’t expect the pace to be quite as strong as it was early, but it allowed him to get into a really good rhythm.”
A 5yo son of Per Incanto (USA), Lost And Running advanced his record to eight wins and two seconds from thirteen starts with earnings of $2,303,100.
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.
His 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 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.
A full-sister to Lost And Running is to be offered by Yarraman Park Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. (lot 141).
