Goliath galloper Hay List, currently sidelined with injury, has a big summer- autumn campaign on the cards with a possible change of trainers and another rematch against superstar mare Black Caviar.
Hay List is on track for a 2012 Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival campaign
One of the boom sprinters on the Australian racing scene, State Of Liberty gelding Hay List suffered a cut to their leg when racing in Queensland during this year’s Brisbane Winter Carnival.
The injured leg became infected and Hay List’s life and racing career hung in the balance.
Time and patience has seen the now six-year-old make a nearl full recovery, Hay List having resumed work in a pre-training facility near Gosford.
Originally prepared by Jim Taylor in WA for their opening two seasons, Hay List was transferred to the stables of Victorian horseman John McNair in early 2010.
They quickly made a name for themselves in the Sydney and Melbourne racing circles, Hay List winning four races on the trot including the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) before their disappointing sixth beaten nearly 12 lengths by Peter Moody’s sprint queen Black Caviar in the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) last November.
Resuming in February Hay List again faced off against the ‘Black Flash’, this time running a brave second in the Group 1 Lighting Stakes (1000m).
More glory was to follow for the hulking sprinter as he won the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Warwick Farm this March, ran second to Black Caviar again this time in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick and took out the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) by an easy three and a half lengths during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Hay List was last seen running his third second to Black Caviar in the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on May 14, his last performance before the grave leg infection put his career on hold.
Connections now have their eye on the upcoming Melbourne and or Sydney Autumn Carnival riches for Hay List, but whether they continue to trained by McNair is yet to be decided.
Former Melbourne Cup winning trainer Mark Kavanagh is reportedly being considered to take over the preparation of the returning champion should they continue to improve enough to run in Melbourne next season.
“Our main problem is Sydney or Melbourne – where we’re going to go,” Part-owner Terry Davenport said.
“That takes a certain amount of thought.
“I’m probably leaning more to Melbourne as their big carnival is coming up.”
Davenport said they were also considering an international campaign for Hay List, with the England’s mid-year Royal Ascot carnival the dream possibility.
“We’ve had good offers to go overseas from the UK, Dubai and Hong Kong,” he said.
“He really needs to do his thing here first, but on the other hand, the UK is as good as it gets.”
After extending her unbeaten career record to 16 straight winning this year’s Patinack Farm Classic, Black Caviar is tipped to resume racing in the $200,000 Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on January 27, 2012.
It is here that Hay List too could resume in another tough test against the best in the business.
If all goes to plan other autumn targets for Hay List, and Black Caviar, are then the $400,000 Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 11 and the $500,000 Group 1 Futurity Stakes also running over 1400 metres at Caulfield on February 25.
Should Hay List take longer than expected to get back to the track, then Davenport indicated that the $750,000 Group 1 Lightning Stakes (100m) at Flemington on February 18 would become a viable first-up option.
All reports at this stage, however, are that he’s looking good for a January return.
“He’s been in light work and will be back on the scene shortly,” Davenport said.
“He’s come back bigger and strong and giving him plenty of time seems to be working.”
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