The two best sprinters in the country will resume their rivalry in Saturday’s TJ Smith Stakes after Hay List confirmed his place in the field after a midweek training gallop.
Hay List has been one of the few horses to have pushed the unbeaten Black Caviar, most memorably in the TJ Smith two years ago when he skipped away in the straight and the great mare had to rev her engine to run him down.
Black Caviar winning at Moonee Valley - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
His career since has been dogged by injuries and setbacks, most recently a hoof complaint which resulted in his scratching from the Group One Galaxy.
Connections feared bad luck had struck again when he produced an unflattering gallop on Sunday but some chiropractic work to his shoulder has improved him enough to take his place.
Regular rider Glyn Schofield made a special trip from Sydney to the central coast on Wednesday morning to test him in a workout and was happy with the improvement.
“He was decidedly better today,” Schofield said.
“They’ve decided they’re going to carry on and run him so obviously there were positive signs this morning.
“But he has had quite a few hiccups which is not ideal.”
Hay List and Black Caviar have not met since the champion mare again relegated him to second in the Lightning Stakes in February last year.
It was the fourth time he had finished runner-up to her, making Schofield the jockey who has got closest to her famous backside most often.
“It’s not a great distinction,” he said.
But in light of Hay List’s interrupted campaign, which comes off the back of a long layoff, the gelding’s connections will be delighted if he can beat all but the mighty mare again.
At his first run in almost a year he finished fourth to Snitzerland in the Challenge Stakes at Warwick Farm on March 16 but after missing a run in the Galaxy, Schofield admits fitness might be an issue.
“He is a competitive horse and he will go out and give a sight,” he said.
“But whether he’s got enough condition to run the race out strongly we’ll find out. He was getting tired at the end at Warwick Farm.”
Hay List will wear the number one saddlecloth in the TJ Smith (1200m) which will be the final race on Saturday’s Derby day program.
Black Caviar is a $1.10 favourite to wow her Sydney fans with win No.25.
