The return of the thoroughbred hulk Hay List hinges on an early hook-up. The only sprinter to have fleetingly pushed the wonder horse Black Caviar is set for a return in Saturday’s Missile Stakes at Randwick.
“As of 11 o’clock he is OK and I’ve got his vet coming to have a look at him in the next hour,” Hay List’s trainer John McNair said on Friday.
“We will make a final decision tomorrow morning. The track is a heavy eight, we will speak to the Davenport family [owners] and see what they want to do.
“He looks good to me, obviously the run will improve him. The longer he is in work the better he will get.”
Having cheated death Hay List is on the way back from an injury to the near front knee.
“We are trying to treat him as normally as possible,” McNair said.
“The one thing I can tell you is I don’t have a problem with his knee. The near front knee is the best it has been for 18 months.
“It’s the age old story, the only thing we’ve had to be careful of is his feet.”
Hoof problems have plagued Hay List throughout his career. One that has netted multiple group 1 wins and the honour of being Black Caviar’s only worthwhile rival.
“I worked him on a firm track at Gosford a week ago and he jarred up slightly,” McNair said.
“We just cannot work him on anything too firm. When we do we start to have issues with jarring.
“When he is doing all his work, here at home there are no problems. Our track here is prepared 100 per cent for him.”
Then there is weight.
“I’ve got his weight down close to what he was when winning the Newmarket,” McNair said.
“His weight is under control, really it is a matter of his fitness improving with racing.”
For you can barrier trial and gallop but nothing like raceday.
“A different mixture runs through their veins on raceday,” McNair said.
“Example, I took him to Gosford to work on Wednesday, kids from Henry Kendall High School were there doing exams, he saw them, his heart was pumping.
“He went out and worked enormous, his adrenalin was up, same on raceday, as opposed to a trial or early morning gallop when noone is around. It is more sedate.”
Sue McNair, the trainer’s wife, is nervous.
“She gets up once or twice in the night to make sure he is there and everything is well with him,” the trainer said.
“The closer we get to racing the more edgier she gets. She spends more and more time with him.”
McNair believes a heavy eight at Randwick will play into the hooves of Sydney’s fastest horse and Missile favourite Rain Affair.
“Hopefully Hay List can win, if not he finishes as close as possible to the winner knowing there is quite a bit of improvement to be derived from the run,” McNair said.
And don’t forget about Hay List’s stablemate Australian Star which is a definite runner at Randwick.
“Australian Star is back in blinkers for the first time in a quite a few runs,” McNair said.
“He lost form completely without the blinkers. The owner wanted to try him without them and he has asked to put them back on.
“We have and I would be expecting and improved from him.”
By Craig Young
