The shortest-priced Randwick Guineas meeting favourite and the jockey riding it will both attract raceday scrutiny for fitness reasons.
Stewards have confirmed the outstanding sprinter Hay List will be inspected once he arrives at Warwick Farm on Saturday for his comeback race in the Group Two Challenge Stakes.
They will also put Glyn Schofield through a simple fitness test after the jockey was stood down from riding midway through Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting and missed Thursday’s Wyong fixture.
Rated the world’s second best sprinter behind Black Caviar in his prime, Hay List is the $2.10 favourite to return to racing with a win in the weight-for-age sprint.
Hay List was sidelined for most of 2012 because of a knee injury he received when he slipped over as he tried to stand up after emergency colic surgery.
The horse’s latest issue involves a near hind hoof infection but he was cleared by trainer John McNair’s vet after trackwork on Thursday.
Deputy chief steward Greg Rudolph said an on-course inspection would be a matter of protocol rather than a decision based on concerns stewards had for Hay List’s well-being.
“John has told us he is very happy with the horse’s work and having come this far he’s not going to take any chances with him,” Rudolph said.
“If for some reason Hay List is not one hundred per cent right, he’s not going to risk him.”
Rudolph said McNair could apply for a late change to Hay List’s shoeing.
“Quite often he’s prone to changing the horse’s plating the day prior to a race, depending on track conditions and so on,” Rudolph said.
Schofield will have to produce a doctor’s certificate to show he is over a back complaint to honour a relatively light book of four rides.
“We will follow up his condition on Friday and he will be looked at by the club doctor on Saturday,” Rudolph said.
