Racing returns to Royal Randwick on Saturday August 10 for the running of the Group 3-Missile Stakes and Listed-The Rosebud.
One of the giants of the racing world, John McNair’s Hay List will resume racing in the Missile Stakes (1200m) after a disappointing finish to his autumn campaign and for the first time since rival Black Caviar’s retirement.
Now an eight-year-old, Hay List is a three-time Group One winner (Manikato Stakes, All Aged Stakes and Newmarket Handicap) but has not had a race win since claiming the Group 1-Newmarket at Flemington in March 2012.
Winner of the Missile in 2011, Rain Affair had an impressive autumn campaign placing second in the Gr 1-All Aged Stakes and second in the Gr 1-BTC Cup in Queensland.
The six-year-old Joseph Pride trained gelding also got the better of Hay List in their last meeting despite finishing just outside the placings.
The recent resurgence of veteran Mic Mac will no doubt add to the quality of the field, given in his last two starts Mic Mac won the Listed-Civic Stakes and was a second to Under the Sun in the Listed-Winter Stakes; both at Rosehill Gardens.
The Rosebud, also run over 1200m, is restricted to three-year-old horses with Gai Waterhouse’s filly, Northern Glory currently the highest rated horse in the field.
Northern Glory has had a fantastic year-to-date, winning three times and placing twice out of six race starts but has some fierce competition with Bull Point (Waterhouse) and Eurozone, trained by Bart Cummings as possible contenders.
Newcastle Jockey Club has received 138 nominations for their eight race program on Saturday.
All but one race has capacity nominations which should ensure a first-class day of racing for the start of the new season at Newcastle.
– Racing NSW
