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By Ray Hickson

The planning has already begun for Lost And Running to make a bid for Everest glory in 2022 but trainer John O’Shea would like to cap the gelding’s spring coming of age with a win in Saturday’s $1m The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle.

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

Lost And Running will be the first TAB Everest runner to continue his preparation into The Hunter and, since his fourth placing in the $15 million sprint, O’Shea said he’s only continued to take steps forward.

That was apparent when he chased home Eduardo in the $1 million Classique Legend Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill two weeks ago clocking 32.94 for his last 600m (Punter's Intelligence) after racing wide with cover.

“(This spring) has been about his education and seasoning and I’m really happy with how he’s progressed,’’ O’Shea said.

“He’s going in the right direction, he’s learning his craft, he just executed his race so well the other day. For a horse with 12 starts now it’s perfect.

“(The Hunter) was always there but it was all relevant to how he was going. He put on 4kg after the Classique Legend and I thought I can’t put him out because he’ll get too fat.

“Any race at this level is a good challenge. Hugh (Bowman) is very happy with him and we’re looking forward to it.”

Adding to the challenge is another outside barrier for The Hunter, he drew 15 in the Classique Legend and will jump from around that number again at Newcastle depending on scratchings.

O’Shea isn’t one to concern himself too much with barriers in Lost And Running’s case as he might be with others but it remains to be seen whether this gate is a plus or a minus.

“As Hugh showed the other day he likes to gallop so sometimes a soft draw is not that advantageous for him,’’ he said.

“We need a barrier to give us the run to win the race. Sometimes that’s 15 and sometimes that’s five.”

Evidence of the strength of The Hunter, now in its third year, can be seen in the fact defending champion Sweet Deal carried 56kg last year but drops to 54kg despite being a Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter since winning the 2020 edition.

The five-year-old was $3.20 favourite with TAB on Wednesday and O'Shea knows he'll have plenty of competition.

“Everyone knows it’s on now, I reckon there are a bunch of horses that have been set for the race,’’ he said.

“You can see them coming through those second tier races and that’s the key to a lot of these new races. We now know how to get them to it and they’re on the radar.”

The Randwick trainer has been adamant that Lost And Running would transition to the top level and while he hasn’t yet added to his six career wins since the Luskin Star back in May the trainer has been vindicated.

And while he always had the confidence the horse would be competitive in the Everest, and he was, it was still a learning curve he had to have and he’ll only be better for it next year.

Lost And Running finishes second at Rosehill on October 30

“With all due respect not many people thought he would make it,’’ he said.

“There was a lot of criticism when he was picked because he was a rating 88 (he is now 110) but I think it was proven this year you’ve got to pick your Everest horse early or it’s pot luck.

“It’ll be the same next year, we’ll want him signed sealed and delivered early because we think he is one of the real chances.”

After The Hunter, O’Shea said Lost And Running will have a short break and will go second-up into the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) in March and then a decision will be made on his path for the rest of the autumn.

Races like the George Ryder, TJ Smith Stakes and All Aged Stakes are on the table.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's The Hunter meeting at Newcastle