Patrick Shaw’s assertions Rocket Man is a better sprinter than Black Caviar have been scoffed at by John McNair, trainer of Doomben 10,000 favourite Hay List.
Black Caviar is currently resting ahead of a spring campaign during which she could meet Rocket Man in the Patinack Farm Classic in Melbourne.
Rocket Man won Sunday’s KrisFlyer Stakes in Singapore to claim victory in his home town feature at his third attempt prompting some big statements from his trainer.
“He’ll beat her, I’ve always thought he’s clearly the better horse,” Shaw said.
McNair thinks Shaw might be kidding himself and has laid down the challenge.
“I don’t believe he (Rocket Man) could beat Hay List let alone Black Caviar,” he said.
Hay List has been on the receiving end of two beatings by Black Caviar this autumn, by 2-3/4 lengths in the TJ Smith and two lengths in the BTC Cup.
As a measure of how good Hay List is, he was five lengths in front of TJ Smith third placegetter and 4-3/4 lengths in front of Buffering in the BTC Cup.
In between those races he scored a dominant win in the All-Aged Stakes in the absence of Black Caviar and punters believe a repeat is on the cards in the 10,000.
Hay List is at $1.60 with multiple Group One placegetter Beaded next at $6.50 and Doncaster Mile runner-up Love Conquers All an $8 chance.
“It’s raining in Brisbane and they are expecting more during the week and I wouldn’t want too much,” McNair said.
“He had a good gallop on Saturday and will have another on Wednesday morning.
“I’m being guarded with him.
“Everyone expects him to dominate but it’s not a foregone conclusion and he has to turn up with his A game.
“He still looks very well and has worked well but he’s had a hard campaign and I don’t know if there’s an awful lot left.
“But all going well he should deliver.”
Hay List is still among the entries for the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 11 and McNair hasn’t ruled it out.
“We’ll get through the 10,000 first,” he said.
Glyn Schofield missed the ride on Hay List in the All-Aged Stakes after breaking a collar bone in a fall in the Sydney Cup the same afternoon.
After just four weeks he was back for a busy weekend during which he flew to Brisbane on Saturday morning to gallop Hay List, rode at Sydney’s Rosehill meeting before flying to Singapore for the winning ride on Gitano Hernando in the Cup.
AAP TURF
