Hay List is a chance to run in The Galaxy

Trainer John McNair will know tomorrow if he is to run his grand sprinter Hay List in the Group 1 $350,000 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

hay list

Hay List is a chance to run in The Galaxy at Rosehill. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

McNair is sweating on the release of weights for the Group 1 handicap but will be reluctant to run Hay List if he is lumbered with more than 59.5 kilos.

“What weight he gets though in the Galaxy will determine what happens. I don’t really want to run with anything more than 59.5kg,” McNair said.

Hay list carried 58.5 kilos when he proved too strong for Buffering, winning by a nose in  last year’s Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington during the Autumn Carnival.

But McNair wants to run Hay List again before lining up in the Group 1 $1m Darley T J Smith (1200m) at Randwick on April 13 and needs the seven year old to be near peak condition for a possible class with the world’s number one sprinter Black Caviar.

“I want him to have another run under his belt if we are to run in the TJ Smith Stakes,” McNair said.

Regular jockey Glyn Schofield won’t argue with McNair after reporting that Hay List pulled up blowing hard after the Challenge Stakes run.

“I’ve never seen him have a blow like that after a run but I gave him plenty of time to get back in  and he feels fine, which is the main thing,” Schofield said.

Hay List is also certain to come up against outstanding filly Snitzerland again in the Galaxy after she won the Group 2 $175,000 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Warwick Farm on March 16.

McNair is concerned that Snitzerland will meet Hay List better at the weights after the Gerald Ryan trained three year old beat the him by more than three lengths at his first run for almost twelve months when fourth in the Challenge Stakes.

“I’ve been told that we might meet Snitzerland worse off at the weights compared to the Challenge Stakes, I don’t think that is fair but we will just have to wait and see.” McNair said.

McNair’s plans for the tough sprinter will become clearer tomorrow with an alternative option to go to Adelaide for the Group 1 $500,000 The Distinctive Homes Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 11.

“A lot of things are still up in the air at the moment,” McNair said.

“I also think the All Aged Stakes could be an option if the prizemoney is there, we just have to wait and see what happens.”

The Galaxy has attracted twenty-five nominations including Challenge Stakes winner Snitzerland, Manikato Stakes winner Sea Siren, smart Victorian sprinter Bel Sprinter, Oakleigh Plate winner Mrs Onassis, last year’s winner Temple Of Boom and Peter Moody’s Golden Archer.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.