Hay List could still be a starter in the Stradbroke Handicap

Hay List may still be a starter in the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap next month after withdrawing from today’s Group 1 Doomben 10,000 due to a foot injury.

Trainer John McNair has discovered that the infection to Hay List’s foot is not career threatening and instead looks to be only a minor abscess.

“It’s bad luck he’s had to miss the 10,000 but it’s good news it’s not career threatening,” McNair said.

“It hasn’t been diagnosed yet but it appears it may only be a foot abscess.

“We’re waiting on a few blood tests and a few other things.”

Hay List first began to show signs of discontentment after his light track work and swim at Eagle Farm yesterday morning.

McNair did not waste any time in seeking veterinary attention for Hay List, who is now being cared for at the Eagle Farm Vets Hospital.

“Within an hour I was on the phone to the vet,” McNair said.

“Obviously it had been brewing for a while but the vet put a poultice on his foot and bandaged the whole leg.”

While McNair’s first thoughts had been to put an end to Hay List’s winter campaign, he now hopes that won’t be necessary.

“Within an hour his temperature went up one degree from being normal at nine o’clock,” McNair said.

“But it now appears it’s not as bad as I first feared and it may only be a foot abscess and we’re not ruling out the Stradbroke just yet.”

Hay List was due to run in today’s $650,000 Doomben 10,000 at Doomben Racecourse and was the short-priced favourite for the race.