Lost And Running got the nod from star racer James McDonald for his lean into Group 1 as star colt King’s Gambit delivered the Golden Slipper reminder on Tuesday’s all-important Royal Randwick test morning.
McDonald will take part in the John O’Shea-coached Lost And Running for the first time since April 2021 when he partnered with the sprinter in Saturday’s $1 million (1,100m) Group 1 The Galaxy race at Rosehill Gardens.
The premier league winning hoop gave Lost And Running the perfect shot to help Canto’s son win the 742m open challenge over Omni Man by a wide margin.
Lost And Running only warmed up late as he clocked 43 seconds (last 600m in 32.62 seconds) for the canter.
“He seems to have gone through it well and James is happy with him, so it’s a good start,” O’Shea said.
“He’s ready to go to the Galaxy this Saturday and James is going to give him a lift.
“We’ll see how he does on the beach on Wednesday, maybe give him a good job next Tuesday and then we’ll go racing.”
Lost And Running quickly became the $4.50 TAB favorite in The Galaxy ($1,100 million) $1 million tournament alongside the winner of the Passive Aggressive Group 2 Challenge Stakes last Saturday.
O’Shea has confirmed he will double bid for Group 1 on the programme, with Guinea’s 2021 Randwick winner Lion’s Roar to line up for the $1 million George Ryder (1500m) stakes after also claiming a 1200m race.
Meanwhile, The King’s Gambit, once a favorite of the Golden Shoe, held the record for a two-year-old $5 million film with great home field performance.
Victorian jockey Mark Zahra, who will pilot the King’s Gambit on slippers, traveled to Sydney to meet the foal trained by Peter and Paul Snowden for the first time.
The King’s Gambit did not disappoint, leaving his opponents late to score a landslide victory at 3¼ in his 1050m run.
The son of I Am Invincible completed the kick in 1.03.49 seconds (last 600m in 35.03 seconds).
The effort has allowed TAB to cut the King’s Gambit from $11 to $9 for the $5 million ($1,200 million) Golden Shoe, where last Saturday’s impressive Todman Stakes winner Top Hat ($3.50) has now taken over the favoritism.
Meanwhile, Galaxy sprinter Shades Of Rose, who placed eighth on last year’s Everest, completed her final major sprint training by winning the 742m race.
Guy Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who won Group 1 in the Congo, also continue to prepare for the attack on the Galaxy after winning the 1050m heat.
Originally published as Lost And Running On The Road To The Galaxy As The King’s Gambit Earns The Golden Shoe