Hay List has recovered from a bruising encounter against Black Caviar and is ready to take the mare on again in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.
The hulking NSW sprinter was on the receiving end of a 3-1/4 length beating in the Lightning Stakes when the mare coasted to the line.
He jarred his shoulders leaving the barrier and trainer John McNair said the horse had been a bit tender after the race.
“I’ll get the chiropractor to check him again on Monday,” McNair said.
“He slipped at the barrier and didn’t jump cleanly and was a bit sore in the shoulders.
“It’s nothing serious and he’ll be running in the Newmarket regardless.
“Glyn Schofield worked him on Friday at Gosford and he was happy so I’m happy.”
Schofield rode Hay List to three successive wins in the spring including the Group One Manikato Stakes.
The gelding ended his campaign with tired sixth in the Group One Patinack Farm (1200m) at Flemington won by Black Caviar.
McNair and the Davenport family who own Hay List have opted against taking him to Dubai and Europe this year but a trip to Singapore for the KrisFlyer Sprint in May is still a possibility.
“The nominations close on Wednesday so we’ll probably enter him and see what happens,” McNair said.
Black Caviar was at $1.30 on Sunday to win the Newmarket (1200m) with Hay List next at $12 followed by Star Witness at $17.
Unbeaten in nine career starts, Black Caviar is the world’s highest rated sprinter which gives McNair heart.
“That means we’re second best,” he said.
Black Caviar’s trainer Peter Moody won last year’s Newmarket with Wanted when the race was run during a fierce storm.
Saturday’s Flemington meeting is the pinnacle of the Melbourne autumn carnival and also features the Group One Australian Cup and seven other Group and Listed races.
AAP TURF
