Trainer John O’Shea has set his sights once again on the A$15 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick this spring with his star sprinter Lost And Running.
The son of Per Incanto finished fourth in the race last year and O’Shea is confident of getting a slot for his gelding once again next season.
“He will be in the race,” O’Shea told Bensley. “The procedures, you must notify Racing New South Wales first before any announcements are made, and that is what we are doing.”
O’Shea has been happy with the way Lost And Running has returned following a spell after his autumn campaign, which included victory in the Gr.3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m).
“The horse is great,” he said. “He is at the beach at the moment, which is his standard play in his first six weeks of his preparation. He is into his third week now.
“We are really happy with him and he is a happy horse.
“We are going to head along a similar path to last year, hoping that he is a bit more seasoned,” he said.
“If we can get some firmish ground going into The Everest, there is no doubt that he will acquit himself well again.”
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 has won eight of his 14 starts, including the $1 million The Hunter (1300m), which O’Shea is eyeing this year with stablemate and compatriot Waihaha Falls.
The Savabeel gelding, who carries the silks of Waikato Stud, won his fourth race at Randwick on Saturday and could be in line for a lucrative spring.
“He is engaged in another race at Randwick next Saturday. If he were to win it would get his rating up to get him into The Everest Consolation,” O’Shea said.
“He is proven to be effective over 1200m at Randwick. He is a horse we would look to run in that race on Everest Day, which is a lovely second tier race for him on his home track.
“He might be a horse that would then progress to a Hunter. That would nearly do him.
“He can have a little break after his next run and he will probably have two runs in the middle of the spring.”
While rich targets await the rising five-year-old this spring, O’Shea’s major target with Waihaha Falls is the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm next year.
“I am adamant that at some stage we will want to set him for the Stradbroke and I think that is ultimately his best chance of winning a big race while he is down in the weights,” O’Shea said.