The form behind Nadal in an 1100m maiden on the Kensington track at Randwick on August 23 was franked once again when the Exceed And Excel filly Lost broke her maiden over 1100m at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, the Snitzel filly Makarena stamped the form with a tenacious victory. Lost was fourth that day, and there was plenty of money to say she had improved enough to offer stiff resistance to the $1.7million I Am Invincible filly Kundalini, who was reappearing after finishing third to the Justify (USA) filly Learning To Fly in the $2million Inglis Millenium at Randwick on February 11.
Fitness may have been the deciding factor. With Zac Lloyd in the saddle for James Cummings, Lost overpowered Kundalini by a half-length with one and a quarter lengths back to the Trapeze Artist colt Groundrush in third.
“She has been a big work in progress and full credit to the Osborne (Park) team,” Lloyd said.
“I used to ride her at Crown (Lodge), and she was a bit of work.
“She is very fingertip stuff, and I was lucky the race flowed nicely for her. Her first start was a bit of a disaster, but it is good to see her bounce through that and improve and race with a nice, relaxed head, allowing her to finish the race off.
“Her first start was a Saturday class race with Nadal and Makarena. She has a lot of ability, and when she puts it all together, watch out.”
A three-quarter sister to three-time Listed stakes-winner Reparations (Exceed And Excel), Lost is the third winner from four to race for the Listed ATC Reginald Allen Hcp winner Abduction, who separated Thunder Lady and Fenway in the Group II Wakeful Stakes and was fifth in the VRC Oaks.
Abuction is a half-sister to Group III STC Gloaming Stakes, and Group III MRC Norman Robinson Stakes winner Retrieve.
A son of Rahy, Reteive provided yeoman service worldwide for Godolphin. A stakes winner at Newmarket, he finished second in the Australian Derby, ATC Rosehill Guineas, AJC Spring Champion Stakes and Milano Gran Premio del Jockey Club, all at the elite level.
Abduction has a 2-year-old Microphone filly named and Found. After foaling a Too Darn Hot (GB) colt last spring, she revisited Microphone but slipped.