John McNair has confirmed Hay List for this Friday’s trials at Randwick in the lead up to his race return in the Lightning Stakes next month.

As we reported yesterday there was the option of trialling at Wyong instead but a number of factors have convinced McNair to make the trip south from his Central Coast base.

At the top of his reasons was to give regular rider Glyn Schofield the chance to get an early feel of the horse.

“Glyn knows the horse and would be able to give me a second opinion,” he said.

In addition to this the Australian Turf Club also put in a bit of legwork to ensure there would be a suitable trial on offer.

The change from the course proper to the Kensington surface originally scrubbed out the 1000m event but the quality of Hay List meant one was created for him.

“There was a bit of confusion, I had him entered for a 1000m trial but there was a shift from the course proper to the Kensington track and the distance I needed wasn’t available,” McNair said.

“The Australian Turf Club then did a ring around to trainers who had horses entered and asked whether they would be interested in a 1000m trial and it was arranged.

“Trialling over 850m was too short and 1200m too long, he hasn’t really had any fast work yet so I am running a fine line between getting enough work into him without making it too taxing.”

It’s a pretty handy trial that awaits him as well with Rangirangdoo, Big Time, Mirrasalo, More Strawberries, Tullamore and O’Reillys Prize all entered.

Hay List is being prepped for the biggest campaign of his career which will not only include the Melbourne features but also Singapore and Royal Ascot later in the year.

At some stage he’ll almost certainly encounter Black Caviar again as well with the trainer throwing down the gauntlet to the unbeaten champion declaring that she won’t beat him again.