Hay List has demonstrated that he should not be discounted in his next showdown with Black Caviar after winning a barrier trial today in incredible fashion.
The five-year-old gelding won his Randwick trial by a phenomenal seven and a half lengths ahead of his nearest competitor, proving he is on track to produce an upset victory against Black Caviar in the $400,000 BTC Cup next weekend.
Jockey Corey Brown rode Hay List to his thrilling barrier trial win.
“It’s stating the obvious, but he went great,” Brown said.
“There’s not much more I can tell you, he was really good and did everything (trainer) John (McNair) wanted him to do.
“He had a good workout but felt super.”
Hay List won his 1,000 metre trail in 58.2 seconds, a time that trainer John McNair found very pleasing.
“He looked like he did it easily,” McNair said.
“Corey didn’t say a lot, not that he needed to. I’m hoping that that trial will get him up somewhere near where he needs to be to take on, and be a serious threat to, Black Caviar.”
McNair feels that the BTC Cup will be Hay List’s best chance of dethroning the unbeaten Black Caviar.
“She has proven too good for us every time we have met her so far but in saying that I don’t think I’ve ever had him anywhere near where he is now,” McNair said.
“So we’ve just got to cross the fingers and hope that everything goes well between now and Saturday week.
“He’s probably never going to look any better than what he is.”
Hay List and Black Caviar have met three times in the past, with the super mare managing to come up trumps on all three occasions.