Hay List has improved after being moved to the Randwick Equine Centre to treat a leg infection

Hay List appears to be on the improve after yet another scare prompted trainer John McNair to take the sprinter to the Randwick Equine Centre for further treatment late last week.

McNair is hopeful that this will be the end of Hay List’s problems, which began with a seemingly simple tender foot before the Doomben 10,000 last month.

“He is on a different anti-biotic and hopefully they can get to the heart of the problem,” McNair said.

“We decided we were better off sending him to the Randwick Equine Centre.

“They have got everything you need as far as scanning the horse is concerned.

“They have changed the drugs they are infusing into the leg.

“It is early days yet but he seems to be responding.

“We won’t know for at least a week after he comes off the treatment.”

With Hay List under watchful eyes at the Randwick Equine Centre, McNair is free to leave on a trip today to Hong Kong and Singapore to assess their quarantine facilities for when Hay List hopes to compete on the world stage next year.

“He is doing a lot better and I’m glad he is where he is while I’m away,” McNair said.

“I’m going to Hong Kong and Singapore to look at the quarantine facilities and hopefully Hay List will be racing there.”

McNair is hoping that this time the infection will clear for good, otherwise an international campaign for Hay List may be off the table.

“Every time we’ve stopped the treatment up to now, the infection has come back,” McNair said.

“Once he’s beaten it, the focus will be on how much damage has been done to the ligament and sesamoid bone, which is attached to it.

“He won’t race again this year, but I’m hoping to get him back for the autumn.”

While McNair is focused on Hay List’s recovery, he is preparing to race Hay List’s half-brother Sound Of The Ocean in his second start this week.

Sound Of The Ocean won his first start at Gosford earlier this month.

“He has a lot to live up to,” McNair said of the newcomer.

“I liked to way he hit the line at his first start, he has the right attitude.

“He’s about two thirds of the size of the other one, well at least a hundred kilos lighter.

“He’s a nice size and a nice horse.”

Sound Of The Ocean will have his first city start at Canterbury Racecourse on Wednesday.