Trainer John O’Shea was delighted with the return of classy sprinter Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto), with the son of Per Incanto cruising to victory in the Gr.3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The five-year-old gelding lumped 61kg top weight to victory, stalking the speed under a perfect Hugh Bowman ride before ranging up to the leaders and bounding clear to score by two lengths.
The New Zealand-bred sprinter has now won eight of his 13 starts, with a further two placings and earnings of A$2.3 million.
The fresh-up victory has paved the way for Lost And Running to contest the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) back at Randwick on March 5.
The race is shaping as a bumper contest, with Group One winners Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux) and Mo’Unga (NZ) (Savabeel) also earmarked for the feature.
“We really want to give him an opportunity to win a race of that calibre because we think he is deserving of it,” O’Shea said.
“We will turn up here in three weeks’ time and he will be a fit racehorse and ready to give a good account of himself.
“He is just doing everything so much better now as he’s got older.
“His wither really only popped up this spell. He had still been running downhill up until this time, so he has finally matured now.
“The next 12 months, if we can continue to keep him sound, he has got a really bright future.”
Hugh Bowman said Lost And Running had come a long way in a short time and he felt he was on the winner a long way out.
“You could see mid-race he was a bit fresh and he wanted to get going with me but I was able to get him to just settle back underneath me from the 700 metres and it was pretty much all over from that point on,” Bowman said.
“I was in complete control and I knew what he was going to give me up the straight. He certainly didn’t disappoint.”
Lost And Running was bred by JML Bloodstock’s Lib Petagna and raised at Blandford Lodge in Matamata.
Petagna retains an interest in the impressive galloper, who races in the colours of Carl Holt, with partners including Frank and Christine Cook and O’Shea’s wife Isabel.
Lost And Running is by Little Avondale Stud’s Per Incanto, with the proven son of Street Cry represented by 33 yearlings at the forthcoming New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales which commence on March 7.
