Deftly handles lost upset animal (11)

I believe the answer is:

manipulates

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'deftly handles' is the definition.
'manipulates' can be an answer for 'handles' (manipulating is a kind of handling). I am not sure about the 'deftly' bit.

'lost upset animal' is the wordplay.
'lost' indicates anagramming the letters.
'upset'+'animal'='upsetanimal'
'upsetanimal' with letters rearranged gives 'MANIPULATES'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for manipulates that I've seen is " Controls with dexterity".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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