A Brisbane Winter Carnival is in doubt for tough sprinter Hay List after suffering yet another setback which could keep out until the Spring.
Hay List winning the 2010 Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Taron Clarke.
Trainer John McNair said the if Hay List fails to respond to treatment for a virus, the seven year old would be put aside and then prepared for the Melbourne Spring Carnival later in the year.
Saturday’s Group 1 $400,000 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick is definitely off the agenda and a quick recovery would be needed to compete in the major sprints in Brisbane next month.
“The vet told us to pull up stumps and we’ll reassess in seven to 10 days, but it will finish up with us probably giving the winter a miss,” McNair said.
“We got it early after taking some blood.”
“You wouldn’t know there’s anything wrong with the horse until you see the results.
“You can either say he’s going to be sidelined and miss another major race. Or, you can say we’re lucky we got it this early on.”
“Glass half empty, glass half full.”
A trip to Brisbane could see Hay List contest the two Group 1 weight for age sprints, the $400,000 Bundaberg Distilling Co. BTC Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm on May 11 and the $650,000 Carlton Mid Doomben 10,000 (1350m) at Doomben on May 25.
There is no talk of retirement and McNair is still thinking of another Spring Carnival tilt with the Group 3 $150,000 Mitty’s McEwen Stakes (1000m) and the Group 1 $500,000 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, two races Hay List won in 2010.
Hay List has been fighting a hoof injury this campaign and McNair has been racing the clock to get Hay List fit, which has been reflected in the geldings two unplaced runs in the Autumn.
The giant sprinter clearly knocked up at his first run back when a tiring fourth to Snitzerland in the Group 2 $175,000 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Warwick Farm on March 16.
Hay List then suffered another setback before finishing well down the track in the Group 1 $1m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 13 when tenth to Black Caviar in her final race appearance.
The three time Group 1 winner has fifteen race victories on the board and McNair is confident that there are still plenty more to come from the tough campaigner.
