The experience of a full season of competing against the best sprinters in the land has Lost And Running in a good position to challenge for the TAB Everest crown in 2022.
That's the view of trainer John O'Shea after the rising six-year-old was confirmed to run in TAB's slot for a second year in the $15 million sprint at Royal Randwick on October 15.
By this time last year Lost And Running had won his first Listed race, the Luskin Star Stakes, so to run fourth in a TAB Everest just a few months later was overachieving to O'Shea's eye, as he was confident the best was yet to come.
"I think they need to run in one to be able to win one, even Nature Strip ran in a couple before he was able to win,'' O'Shea said.
"I think we got it right, he ran the best race of his preparation and ran fourth and he exceeded market expectation importantly.
"To be fair, last year, TAB took a gamble on Lost and Running heading into the Everest as he was only a horse on the way up with a good record.
"The ownership group of Lost And Running, headed by Carl Holt, definitely felt a duty to repay the faith TAB had in the horse last year in making the decision to partner with them again for the 2022 version."
After his first Everest attempt, Lost And Running chased Eduardo home in the $1m Classique Legend Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill then carried 59kg to a dominant win in the $1m The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle.
The gelding only had two starts in the autumn, a first-up win under 61kg in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) before finishing unplaced in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap, so O'Shea could concentrate on a second Everest campaign.
Tabcorp Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Adam Rytenskild said TAB is excited to be part of the Lost And Running journey for the second time and to again be the naming rights partner of Sydney's biggest race.
"He's one of Australia's most promising sprinters and his eye-catching run last year showed he can certainly win the race,'' he said.
"Since the Everest, he's been impressive winning The Hunter and at Group level and there's no doubt he's a more seasoned horse heading into this year's race. We're really looking forward to bringing our customers on Lost And Running's journey to the Everest.
"The TAB Everest has become Sydney's most exciting race and we are proud to have sponsored the event since its creation. The TAB will always back racing and its participants."
Lost And Running is on the $11 line in TAB's all-in Everest market and is the fifth horse confirmed to run in the race, joining the trifecta from 2021 - Nature Strip (Chris Waller Racing), Masked Crusader (Max Whitby & Neil Werrett) and Eduardo (Yulong) – and the emerging Mazu (The Star & Arrowfield).
O'Shea said it's likely Lost And Running will have a similar preparation into the Everest to last year with plans to also contest the $1m Nature Strip Stakes (1300m) on October 29.
"We'll give him a couple of runs before it, run in the Premiere as a lead up as he loves 1200m at Randwick, and try to front up in the best condition we can,'' he said.
