Veteran sprinter Hay List will not take part in the Group 3 Missile Stakes (1200m) next Saturday, with trainer John McNair indicating that the injury-plagued gelding was short of the fitness required to return to the races.

Hay List's return to racing has been pushed back and he will not compete in the Missile Stakes next Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Hay List performed well in a barrier trial over 1000 metres at Royal Randwick this morning, finishing strongly despite being well held by jockey Glyn Schofield, and had no problems coming out of the run but McNair clearly does not want to rush the eight-year-old back to the races.

“His hoof issue took a little longer to get over than what we expected and that has restricted how much I could work him,” McNair told TVN after the trial.

“He is sound, he just needs a bit more work and the Missile Stakes has come up just a little too quick.”

Hay List had a disrupted 2013 Autumn Racing Carnival campaign after returning to the races for the first time in almost a year.

He faded late to finish fourth behind Snitzerland first-up in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Warwick Farm in March and was ruled out of the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) a fortnight later due to an injury setback.

The son of Statue Of Liberty had one final battle with rival Black Caviar in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick but finished second last and he was sent to the spelling paddock, missing the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, after contracting a virus.

If he can return to full fitness, Hay List is likely to be set for the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 14  and the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) on Cox Plate eve – both of which he won in 2010.