BROADMEADOW trainer David Atkins will have plenty to say when he tries to convince the owners of rising stayer Lost For Words to delay a trip to stud to race for another season and chase glory in next month's Newcastle Cup.
The five-year-old mare showed her staying power with an amazing last-to-first win in the Markey Saddlery Handicap (2400 metres) at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
Atkins said after the gritty win that he would talk to the owners of the daughter of Zabeel to try and keep her racing.
He said Lost For Words had been booked to head to stud to be served by Fastnet Rock.
Owner John Barnes sent a text to the Newcastle Herald on Saturday afternoon saying that he was in far north Queensland and was unable to watch his mare score her first city win.
"I will have to speak to the owners, but the mare is lightly raced and has done so well on virtually one full preparation," Atkins said.
"I am hoping she will go for another season as there is plenty of upside left in her yet."
Champion jockey Jim Cassidy also thought there were more wins in store for Lost For Words after he guided her to victory.
"I would leave the blinkers off her," Cassidy told Atkins.
"I would be keeping the blinkers up my sleeve. They could be another plus for her later on when she takes on better company."
The win of Lost For Words came in only a benchmark 78, but the way she achieved the victory showed that the $120,000 listed Wyong Cup (2100m) on Friday week and the group 3 $185,000 Newcastle Cup (2300m) on September 16 would not be beyond her.
Things went amiss early for Lost For Words on Saturday.
She bounded in the air when the gates were opened and as a result lost ground.
She was being revved up by Cassidy well before the turn and eventually responded to round the field quickly.
She looked to be going well enough to win before Telesmon loomed up and appeared to have her measure.
But as she has done before, Lost For Words rallied and came away to win by half a length.
Lost For Words could not have picked a better day or course to show what a staying star of the future she could be.
In 1998 What Can I Say was too good for Star Covet and champion Tie The Knot in the group 2 Warwick Stakes.
The mare went on to become the dam of Lost For Words, which showed she has a real splash of her mum's ability with her win on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Newcastle trainer Kris Lees will give his strong mare Hidden Wonder the chance to bounce back to form quickly after her failure at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
Lees is keen to back her up in the Premier's Cup (1800m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Hidden Wonder weakened from third on the home turn to finish eighth behind Kontiki Park over 1600m.
"Hidden Wonder has turned in just two poor runs for me and both came when she was cluttered up in between runners," Lees said yesterday.
"She has always raced best when she has led or sat outside the leader, but that did not happen yesterday.
"She was third on the rails and just did not seem to appreciate not getting good galloping room.
"That is the only reason I can give for the failure, and if she pulls up well I will back her up on Saturday.
"I am just hoping the fact she did race on the pace on the outside of runners was the reason she failed, and hopefully she will be able to get back to run where she likes it on Saturday."
Lees was more than happy with Elimbari, which finished fifth behind Parables in the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm.
Elimbari was beaten three lengths but made up ground in the straight after being well back early.
"Elimbari's effort was real good as she was one of the few that was able to make up some ground," Lees said.
"Of course the winner really charged home, but I thought our filly did enough to say she will be competitive in the Princess Series races from here on in.
"She will go to the Furious Stakes, which is the next race in the series in a fortnight, and the step up from 1200 to 1400 will help her."
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