John McNair heard the talk that star sprinter Hay List might be bound for a new Melbourne-based trainer.
He didn’t let it get to him.
He trusted he had done everything right by the horse and that Hay List would be coming home to his Central Coast property.
“A lot of it was taken out of context,” McNair said.
“I just kept my head down and focused on what I was doing and on the horse coming home.
“Our attitude was, we’ve done nothing wrong, so we were always hopeful and expecting he might return.”
On Wednesday, Hay List did.
The dual Group One winner has not raced since the BTC Cup at Doomben in May when he was runner-up to champion Black Caviar.
Soon after he was struck down by a life-threatening leg infection which sidelined him for the spring.
McNair says the gelding looks to be in good order physically and he is looking forward to an ambitious national and international campaign.
The Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 18 is earmarked for his return and likely to be Hay List’s only run in Melbourne.
“We haven’t ruled out the Newmarket. It would depend what weight he gets,” McNair said.
“But it’s very unlikely.
“We’ll then focus on New South Wales. He’ll probably have three or four runs in New South Wales then all going well, hopefully go overseas.”
McNair said Hay List’s owners, the Davenport family, would get the final say on the six-year-old’s preparation but he believed Singapore and Royal Ascot were the most likely overseas destinations.
“I’d expect Singapore and Ascot but that’s a decision they’d have to make,” he said.
“If he went to Dubai that would rule out the TJ Smith (in Sydney).”
Hay List is widely regarded as the second best sprinter in Australia, behind only Black Caviar.
The pair have met four times and Hay List has run second to her on three occasions.
But Hay List has struggled with feet problems in recent preparations, something McNair hopes is now behind him.
And if he can get Hay List fit and injury-free he wants a rematch with the undefeated champ.
“I’m salivating at the chance,” McNair said.
AAP TURF
