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By Ray Hickson

He’s the untapped wild card in the $15m TAB Everest and as Lost And Running took his first step on the journey by winning a Randwick trial on Friday, trainer John O’Shea said his performance reinforced his belief that he’s on track.

Trainer John O'Shea (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Lost And Running has won six of his seven starts and was last seen winning the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill in May, soon after which he was secured by TAB for an Everest slot.

Under jockey Hugh Bowman, and 20kg heavier than when he last raced, the gelding picked up the speedy Marway to win an 850m heat in the time of 49.52.

“Hugh was very happy with him, he did everything well, he looks to have made good improvement strength wise,’’ O’Shea said on Sky Thoroughbred Central after the trial.

“He’s coming off a much higher base fitness wise. He had to come up a bit in the wither, he’s been a very late maturing horse and he’s just got stronger and it’s reflecting in what he’s doing at home.

“I think he’s on track to run well when we do step him out.”

O’Shea plans to trial Lost And Running again on September 10, he’s looking into a potential race day gallop as well, before resuming in the Group 2 $500,000 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 18.

That race is set to feature Everest runners Classique Legend and Gytrash, plus Eduardo and Rothfire who are chasing Everest slots, and O’Shea said he feels Lost And Running ($9 in TAB’s all-in Everest market) will relish the high pressure races ahead of him.

“If you look at the machinations of the lead ups to the Everest I don’t think we’re going to have much trouble about having tempo in the races,’’ he said.

“I would never want to negate his ability to take a position in a race. If you go a speed he’s happy with he relaxes beautifully.

“I’m happy for him to roll forward and be in the first four or five and that will have him in contact with the real fast conveyances.”

Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside had a deliberately quiet trial as he finished fifth behind Lost And Running with co-trainer Michael Freedman saying it was exactly what he wanted eight days out from his return in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Kembla Grange.

The TAB Everest is very much on the radar for the colt if he proves he’s made the transition from his outstanding two-year-old season and is $8 in the all-in TAB market.

Lost And Running wins a trial at Randwick on August 20

“I had a chat to Tommy (Berry) before the trial and said we really just wanted to have a nice tick over this morning,’’ Freedman said on Sky.

“It was a nice spin around, where he kept him on the bridle, and I’m very happy with him.

“He went to the line under his own steam. He’s pulled up nice and clean in the wind and I think that will bring him on well.”

Star Kiwi three-year-old Sword Of State finished just ahead of Stay Inside in the trial and he’ll also line up at Kembla Grange on Saturday week.

All the results and replays from Friday's Randwick trials