The John O’Shea-trained Lost And Running goes into the $15 million The Everest (1200m) a last start winner after holding on to win the 2022 Premiere Stakes in a fighting finish on Epsom Day.

Lost And Running was brave late holding to win the 2022 Premiere Stakes on way to the $15 million The Everest. Photo: Steve Hart.

The now six-year-old son of Per Incanto gets a second shot at the world’s richest turf race, and Nature Strip, returning to Randwick on October 15 for this year’s The Everest after a brave fourth last year.

He ran well in that at 30/1 only two lengths beaten last spring on the back of a fourth in the Premiere Stakes, which he improved on this year taking out the $1 million event over 1200m despite a Heavy track.

Jockey Hugh Bowman continued associations on Lost And Running whose first-up run was a good third to Nature Strip in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) on September 17.

He is now fine-tuned for the big rematch with the Waller super sprinter having just held off the fellow Everest-bound Mazu who ran a bolter for the Snowdens in second.

“It was a super win because Hugh had to get off the back of Overpass who took him nowhere. So he had to make a really long run on him. But that is the way you want to ride a 6/4 chance, take all the luck out of it,” winning trainer O’Shea said post-win.

“He’s going to come on so much for that. He was probably on empty with 100m to go but he got the job done and we can go to the big race in a couple of weeks with our tail in the air and hopefully get another win. He will come on for that. It is a great result for the stable, the owners, and everyone involved.”

The eye-catching run though came from last year’s Premiere Stakes winner Masked Crusader who is crying out for a dry track to run his best race.

“He went very well. I dived up the inside there. A little bit of luck come the next one, we’ll be looking good,” jockey William Pike said of Masked Crusader.

The Hawkes Racing-trained six-year-old was runner-up in the 2021 The Everest results and could be in the finish again after ducking back to the inside today to fly home late into third.

Nature Strip remains the clear $2.20 favourite in all-in The Everest betting at Ladbrokes.com.au to go back-to-back.

“He’s really on track and he’s got the benefit of having been through the series last year and improved every race and ultimately ran fourth in the main event,” Bowman said of Lost And Running.

“But this year things are going a lot better for him and he’s a more mature individual. He’s certainly on track.

“He’s very effective over 1400m and even last start he was beaten for speed when the speed went on and ran through the line well. Although I went earlier than I would’ve liked I just wanted to take luck out of it. I was supremely confident going into the race and he’s going to improve again off this into The Everest.

“What I’d love to get though is better track conditions, not that it’s anyone’s fault, it’s just the rain we’ve had. But if we get a fine week Everest week, it’s going to assist the others too, but I think you’ll see the best of him. Not necessarily firm ground, but just not the Heavy.”

Lost And Running for slot holders the TAB is the $5.50 second elect, having firmed in from $7, with full markets available here.

2022 Premiere Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.