Making Hay

It's a well used statement that in any other era, Hay List would be proclaimed the best sprinter in the land, and perhaps the world.  The hulking son of Statue of Liberty has a fine record, but he has had to live in the shadow of the mighty mare Black Caviar, who has defeated him soundly on every occasion the 2 sprinters have met.

However, after "Nelly" again relegated him to 2nd place in the G1 Lightning Stakes for the 2nd successive year, her trainer Peter Moody elected not to start his great champion in the 2012 Newmarket Handicap, where she had been burdened with a crushing weight of 60kg.  And his decision left the door wide open for the perennial bridesmaid Hay List to win an overdue G1 race.  He swept down the outside late, to nail the gallant Buffering right on the line, to win by a whisker.  It was great theatre, and no one on course begrudged him his victory.

Hay List has also been injury and illness plagued.  He has bad feet, and last year, after making Black Caviar extend in the BTC Cup, he was withdrawn on the eve of the Doombeen 10,000 due to a colic attack and a nasty leg infection.  There were fears for the great horse's life, but he survivied, due to the expert eye of his devoted trainer John McNair and a highly skilled veterinary team.

Alas, after the horse then ran a gallant but perhaps jaded 2nd to Foxwedge in the 2012 William Reid Stakes, he suffered yet another colic attack, and then injured his knee coming out of surgery.  I hope all is well for this warrior of the turf.






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