After missing the opportunity to chase a $350,000 race in Queensland on Saturday The Lost Storm will have to settle for a Bendigo consolation

The Lost Storm will have to settle for a $20,000 consolation at Bendigo on Saturday night instead of a $350,00 prize at Albion Park.

The Lost Storm streaks away with the VicBred 2YO Final at Tabcorp Park Melton. Picture: Stuart McCormick

Brilliant young Victorian pacer The Lost Storm should be in Brisbane chasing a $350,000 race this weekend.

Instead, because of a lack of suitable flights, he will tackle a $20,000 race at Bendigo on Saturday night.

But owner-breeder Justin Baker has put the disappointment behind him as he looks to the ultimate “Grand Final” – the world’s richest race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 2.

“It was always our plan to take him up for the Rising Sun (on Saturday night) at Albion Park, but this year, for some reason, getting flights at the right times was very difficult,” Baker said.

“In the end, we would’ve had to float him up and that was a flat no at the start of a very big few months for him and with how highly we rate him.”

But The Lost Storm will still head north, just later than planned.

“Yes, he’s still going, but just for the Queensland Derby (July 22),” Baker said. “We can get flights for that and it fits our plans a lot better.

“Clayton (Tonkin, co-trainer) thinks we are a really serious chance in the TAB Eureka and it’s our Grand Final, so we want to look after him as best we can between now and then given how much it’s worth.”

The Lost Storm hasn’t raced since winning by an astonishing 36.7m in the Group 1 Vicbred 2YO final at Melton on New Year’s Eve.

“It’s been a long time out and a slow build-up, but he’s got a busy back half of the year,” Baker said.

“It’s so exciting to have him back. I’m itching for Saturday night.

“He’s had the one trial at Bendigo and Emma (Stewart, co-trainer) said he’s come on in leaps and bounds since then.

“He’ll definitely improve on whatever he does this week, but he’s ready to run a big race.”

Baker said The Lost Storm has thrived during his extended break.

“You’ll notice when you see him,” he said. “Emma and Clayton say he’s taken the next step. He’s a different looking horse to last year, he’s really muscled up.

“He’ll have this race, go to Queensland and probably have another two or three runs before the TAB Eureka.”

Beyond the TAB Eureka, where The Lost Storm will race in the TAB slot, Baker said the Victoria Derby in earlier October and Breeders Crown in November were his other major targets for the year.

The Lost Storm is the most favoured three-year-old in TAB Eureka contention at $8 behind glamour four-year-olds Leap To Fame ($3.20), Catch A Wave ($3.50) and Captain Ravishing ($5).

Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.

Originally published as After missing the opportunity to chase a $350,000 race in Queensland on Saturday The Lost Storm will have to settle for a Bendigo consolation