While Black Caviar prepares to race in front of the queen at Royal Ascot, Australia’s second best sprinter is continuing his rehabilitation at trainer John McNair’s property.
Hay List suffered a leg injury when he slipped after undergoing colic surgery in early April.
A decision on his racing future will be made by his owners, the Davenport family, but McNair says the giant gelding is happy and well.
“He is walking out every day and is a happy horse,” McNair said.
“We’ll just play it by ear but he is doing well.”
Hay List’s finest moment came when he lugged a hefty 58.5kg to win the Newmarket Handicap in March.
The Newmarket was the third Group One win for Hay List who has racked up four seconds at the top level behind Black Caviar.
Although Hay List couldn’t make it to Royal Ascot this year to race against Black Caviar, McNair played a small part in the mare’s travel regime.
Black Caviar’s trainer Peter Moody approached McNair after seeing Hay List in his special compression suit and the mare wore her custom made outfit on the trip to England last week.
“I believe the manufacturers have had a lot of interest and even an order from an English trainer,” McNair said.
“The suits are not hot. In fact they cool the horses down.”
If Hay List has been unlucky to race in the era of Black Caviar, Buffering has had to mix it with both of them.
McNair said he felt for connections when the gelding racked up his sixth Group One placing in Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap when second to another Moody-trained mare, Mid Summer Music.
“What does Buffering have to do to win a Group One?” McNair said.
“He is such a good horse and deserves one.”
Buffering’s Group One placings include a second to Black Caviar in the Patinack Farm Classic in which Mid Summer Music was third and second to Hay List in the Newmarket.
