News

Hay List team confirm Royal Ascot hopes

28th Sep 2010

Racing Post - Nicholas Godfrey - Monday, 27 September 2010

Connections of Hay List, the new star of the Australian sprinting scene, have confirmed their hopes that he will travel to Royal Ascot next year.

The John McNair-trained five-year-old, scored a thrilling win in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes on Friday night.

"I would be surprised if he wasn't invited," McNair said. "There has already been a lot of press about him in England.

"Obviously he is very talented so it is just a matter trying to keep everything going in the right direction and not overtax him."

Hay List is being described as a "boom sprinter" by the locals after winning 11 of his 13 career starts.

He could make a surprisingly quick return to action on Sunday at Flemington in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes, over the same course and distance as his main spring carnival target, the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic over 6f on November 6.

"He's a 90 per cent chance of running," McNair told AAP Racing. "It wasn't the original plan to run him this week but he is not going to Hong Kong or Perth.

"If he was he wouldn't be running on Sunday. He will go for a spell after the Patinack Farm and after the spring the owners want to concentrate on the autumn with him."

His Gilgai appearance sets up a potential showdown with former Australian horse of the year Weekend Hussler, who is on the comeback trail from injury.