Jockey Glyn Schofield has declared classy sprinter Hay List is fit and well and is ready to take on champion Black Caviar at Flemington on Saturday.
Schofield travelled to Gosford this morning to gallop Hay List for trainer John McNair and said that he was spot on for his return to racing after recovering from a serious leg infection which put him out of action since last year’s Brisbane Winter Carnival.
“He felt great and I’m confident he’ll run a good race on Saturday,” Schofield said.
“He didn’t do much this morning, his work is more or less done but he opened up nicely over the final 200 metres of the gallop.
“His weight is pretty close to where John wants it so it’s all systems go.”
Hay List has drawn barrier seven in a field of nine in the Group 1 $750,000 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) on Saturday with Black Caviar coming up with five.
Schofield is going to Flemington with a positive attitude ready to put down the challenge to the unbeaten mare who is going for nineteen straight wins in the Lightning.
Hay List has lined up against Black Caviar on four occasions which resulted in three seconds and one unplaced all in group 1 company.
One of those seconds was in last year’s Lightning when Black Caviar blew him away by over three lengths in running 57.2s on track rated a dead 4.
If the unforeseen happens and Hay List does bring the mighty mare’s winning streak to an end, Schofield said he is ready for the uproar from the packed Flemington stands.
“I’m going to Flemington on Saturday ready to be booed and what will be will be,” he joked.
“I know my bloke is going very well. Whether or not that’s good enough to beat her, time will tell.
“What I do know is, you don’t find oil without digging a hole in the ground.”
Queenslanders Phelan Ready (barrier 2), Buffering (3) and Temple of Boom (1) have all accepted for the Lightning as well as the John O’Shea trained three year old Foxwedge who dew the outside of the field.
The Robert Heathcote trained Buffering along with Temple Of Boom and Foxwedge will be heading towards the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 10 after Saturday.
Buffering and stablemate Woorim were both winners during the Melbourne Spring Carnival last year and Heathcote is banking on one of them to give him his first group 1 victory.
