Lost And Running has been a late maturing sprinter but now he has finally grown into his hulking frame, trainer John O’Shea is hoping he can knock off a Group 1 race.

The gelding has transitioned from being an emerging talent to mixing it with the country’s eminent sprinters as evidenced by his game fourth to Nature Strip in The Everest before he rounded out his spring with a dominant win in The Hunter.

He will kick off his latest campaign in the Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday and while O’Shea believes his 61kg impost will make it hard for him to win, he is adamant the horse is in for a grand campaign.

“He always needs a run but he is significantly further forward on Saturday than what he normally is,” O’Shea said.

“He can be competitive. The impediment of the weight is probably going to be enough to make it difficult for him to win but we are really happy with where he’s at and he will run very well.”

O’Shea has taken a patient path with Lost And Running, building his confidence and his record as he waited for the horse to fully mature.

He believes the six-year-old is finally there and longer-term, the trainer is hoping for another Everest opportunity, although there has been no interest yet.

“I’m waiting for someone to knock on the door. One thing we have learned about the Everest is the early bird gets the worm there,” O’Shea said.

“He is nearly the furnished article now. Physically, he probably is. We were always waiting for him to grow into himself and fundamentally, he has probably done that now.”

Stablemate and early Southern Cross Stakes favourite Quantico has been scratched from Saturday’s race due to muscle stiffness after he became cast in his stall with Lost And Running the new market leader at $3.60.