australian-racing-0719
Hay List set to target a Group 1 treble over the Melbourne Spring
Grand galloper Hay List is on track for this year’s Spring Racing Carnival with trainer John McNair keen to make the most of the added riches available to sprinters in Victoria this Spring.
McNair said the hulking sprinter would likely make his Victorian return in the recently upgraded $450,000 Group 1 Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 27, before then targeting the $1 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at the same track on October 25 and the Group 1 $1 million Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 9.
“With the increased prize money in the Manikato and the elevation of the Moir to Group 1 status, it’s made Victoria our main focus this Spring,” McNair said.
“I was going to kick him off in the Missile Stakes (Group 3, 1200m) at Randwick on the 10th of August but we’ll probably wind his first run back a touch now because it would be a bit too early to fit in with the program in Melbourne.
“He’ll probably have one run in Sydney and then head down to Melbourne for the Moir.”
A three time Group 1 winner, the son of Statue Of Liberty has twice tasted success at the highest level in Victoria, with a victory in the 2010 Manikato Stakes followed by his famous triumph lumping 58.5kg to win the 2012 Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
Last seen at the races finishing 10th behind arch nemesis Black Caviar in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April, McNair said he believes there is no reason why the rising eight-year-old can’t get back to his brilliant best.
“The horse is improving in his fitness almost daily and he feels better than he’s felt in a long time,” he said.
“At the end of the day he’s going to have a nice, long, slow preparation, which means if anything small goes awry now then we’ve got plenty of time to do something about it.
“All he needs are a few things to go his way and I can’t see why he can’t get back to where he was.”
Click here to watch Hay List’s victory in the 2012 Newmarket Handicap
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS2Ufum51PIBy
12 Comments | 1 decade ago
Recent Comments
theketaminekid 02 Jul | Posts: 471
I thought the same. His last prep looked like it might be his last to me? Ditto
AndrewCarter 02 Jul | Posts: 2144
McNair inherited a very good horse and under difficult circumstances has done a good job with him but Haylist became the horse he was because of trainer Jim Taylor's initial patience with him.
AndrewCarter 02 Jul | Posts: 2144
Carey if you remember he didn't like being exposed for his own vile actions and being forced to apologise for them and ever since it's always Aussiered dislikes this. Doesn't worry me in the slightest as it's as juvenile as his comments were, he's not even a b...
carey 02 Jul | Posts: 6229
you need to do something about your unhealthy obsession aussie.if you don't like him, then fine, but it matters not what he writes.......along comes aussie to have another little dig.don't mind the odd dig myself, but think you go to the well too often.
AndrewCarter 02 Jul | Posts: 2144
Aussiered I have my own personal opinion of the owners handling of this immensely courageous animal and I'll keep that to myself.
thefalcon 02 Jul | Posts: 20203
you cannot help but wishing those delightful owners every success. :-\"
Aussiereds72 02 Jul | Posts: 562
That's why johns the trainer and your not Andrew
AndrewCarter 02 Jul | Posts: 2144
What more does he have to achieve, if he was my horse he wouldn't even have raced last prep and would be enjoying a life of luxury in a nice paddock somewhere.
LuckyLongshots 02 Jul | Posts: 4185
Same here JayJay - I'd love to see nothing more than him go out winning a spring Group 1 - but I don't want to see him finish tailed off at the back of a field. Fingers crossed he is 100% before racing again!
JayJay 02 Jul | Posts: 8097
Older horses are the trainers speciality - Ears Ronny, Mustard amongst many. Last prep after knee surgery, he ran a very tidy first up 4th and then failed with a virus in the TJ Smith and went straight out. He hasn't been over raced and would be a living legen...