Having taken the lead from the ship astern? (4)

I believe the answer is:

past

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'having taken the lead' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'from the ship astern?' is the wordplay.
'from' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'PAST' is hidden in the letters of 'the ship astern'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for past that I've seen before include "Beyond" , "A person's earlier life history" , "tense" , "The time that has elapsed" , "Gone by in time" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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