Top-class five-year-old Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto) made it a one-act affair in the A$1 million The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle on Saturday.
The John O’Shea-trained son of Per Incanto brought impeccable form-lines through a fourth-placing in the A$15 million The Everest (1200m) and runner-up finish in the A$1 million Classique Legend (1300m).
But to counter-balance that, he lumped 59kgs as topweight and jumped from the second to outside barrier of 14.
After pressing forward, Lost And Running covered some extra ground as rivals kicked up underneath him but he still found another gear when jockey Hugh Bowman pushed the button in the straight to comfortably hold Wandabaa and Top Ranked.
“It was a big performance today,” O’Shea said.
“He had a bunch of weight and Tommy (Berry) kicked up on the inside and made him work the whole way, but he got into a lovely rhythm and really let down late.
“He is a class act and we are really proud of the horse.”
O’Shea paid credit to his staff, with the attractive galloper continuing to improve and peaking five-runs into a strong campaign.
“We are really excited because that was a good job today and he heads for a well-earned break now. He will come back in the autumn and see if he can win a couple more,” O’Shea said.
“When we got home after the Classique Legend, he put on five kilos. I said I’ll be buggered if he needs to go to the paddock, so we thought we’d better give him another run just to make sure he wasn’t too big going to the paddock.
“You could see today he had made improvement from the Classique Legend and he raced accordingly.
Lost And Running has now won seven of his 12 starts and career earnings in excess of A$2.2 million and has forged a good relationship with jockey Hugh Bowman who has ridden him in every start this preparation.
“His first-up run didn’t go to plan and then it was a patch-up job towards The Everest and he hasn’t disappointed once, he has continued to raise the bar and we were ultra-confident here today,” Bowman said.
“He is a horse that likes room and as I turned for home, he looked under pressure, but once he balanced up and changed legs he just extended away and won with the authority that we expected him to. He is a very exciting horse for next year.”
Bowman believes Lost And Running can improve even further and potentially extend in trip, while recognising that veteran opponents like Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Eduardo (Host) are at the peak of their powers and unlikely to improve any more.
“I am a bit suspicious that he might be better suited more towards a mile,” Bowman said.
“He has matured so much this preparation and really relaxed. He is a different horse and I think you will see the best of him over distances further than 1200m.”
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 firmly ensconced in the top 25 sires on the Australian General Sire’s list, on the back of being champion sire by winners in Hong Kong last season.
The gelding is the first foal out of the unplaced Danroad mare Dreamlife (NZ), a sister to Group Three winner Kiss Me Ketut (NZ).
Former Highview Stud stallion Danroad is in the top four as a broodmare sire in Australia, care of Lost And Running and Melbourne Cup winning mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (By Zed out of the Danroad mare Opulence).
There are 14 lots by Per Incanto in this week’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, which will be conducted on November 17 and 18.
