MV SEPT 11 - HAY LIST SCORCHES TURF IN MCEWEN STAKES

By Taron Clarke | Sunday, September 12, 2010

Moonee Valley, September 11, 2010.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - True. Penetrometer 5.02.
McEwen Stakes (Group Three) Weight for Age - 1000m.
Time: 59.60. 600m Sectional: 35.27. (Carrying 58.5kg).
1 Hay List; 2 Catapulted; 3 Reward For Effort.
Margins: 1.5L x 2.5L.

Former West Australian sprinter Hay List announced himself as Australia’s premier short course horse with a dominant victory in the Group Three McEwen Stakes over 1000 metres.

Having his first start in Victoria, Hay List showed the Australian racing public why he should be considered for an overseas campaign next year with a scintillating performance when defeating a field of quality opposition.

Owned by the Davenport family of Davenport fashion fame, the son of Stature Of Liberty was ridden by Sydney based jockey Glyn Schofield.

Quickly into stride, Hay List and Schofield landed in a beautiful trailing position one out and one back behind the early leading duo, Solchow and Catapulted.

The other well fancied runner was the Peter Moody trained Group One winner Reward for Effort. Stable jockey Luke Nolen settled the son of Exceed and Excel third on the fence inside the hotpot Hay List.

Mark Kavanagh’s Catapulted became the outright leader as the small field of select sprinters commenced the swing for home. Solchow had came off the bridle for jockey Damien Oliver and Glyn Schofield had no hesitation in bringing Hay List out three wide to come with his run.

Reward for Effort was able to push out underneath Solchow and ease across Catapulted’s and Hay List’s heels in order to find a trouble free passage in the home straight.

But it was all in vain as Schofield gave Hay List an inch of leather and Hay List drew away over the last 150 metres to score a very soft victory by a length and a half with two and a half lengths back to Reward for Effort in third.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer John McNair: “I am still shaking don’t worry!

“It is a bit of everything really, but this horse is a very, very good horse and it is so exciting to be associated with an animal like him. He could go way, way to the top this horse.

“I think there is still improvement there as well.

“There are probably three or four races down here that will suit him and then we will sit down and talk about what we are going to do after that.

“The Manikato Stakes is the next step which is two weeks here.

“We won’t rule anything out, but certainly if he is invited to England we would look at it.

“There are a lot of the internationals that are on the radar, but of course you have got to really look into the quarantine restrictions and that will come into where we go.

“He can get unhinged with something if it goes wrong. For a big, strong, tough horse he has got a nervous streak about him … but to handle around the place he is just the loveliest animal.”

Jockey Glyn Schofield: “He is a very exciting animal, obviously as his first two runs coming out to the east have shown. He’s gone north, he’s gone south and he has sort of blown them away both times. Good horses have a V8, but he is jet propelled!

“John’s got a lot of horse to work with still and it’s a very good indication of what he has got to come because he has sort of toyed with this lot and they were a very talented bunch.

“I don’t think John has ever got to the bottom of him yet. He hasn’t had him long enough, but hopefully we can and there are exciting times ahead.”

Part-owner Katie Davenport: “I don’t think you can put into words how amazing it is. I have had some pretty good spring carnivals, but pretty safe to say this could be one of the best ever!

“It is just incredible. It makes it even better that dad bred him, so I guess it makes it even more incredible and more exciting finding out what is next.

“Dad bred not only Hay List but his dam as well, so it has been a long term project and it’s just unbelievable … all credit to Terry Davenport, he has done an incredible job!

“John trained Duke Bonga Longa for me a few years ago and he is just an incredible horseman and I just couldn’t thank him enough for today…… it is just the most incredible feeling!”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Hay List): 2.25 out to 2.50.
The winner was the favourite.

Horse to follow: Hay List is a potential star of the Australasian turf and will only get better with racing this time in. John McNair has been patient with the son of Stature Of Liberty since taking over the training of the gelding early in the year, and he will no doubt reward the Gosford mentor for his patience.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
During the running of the race, Morgan Dollar suffered a bleeding attack from both nostrils and will now be subject to the mandatory three month suspension from racing.

Mr S. Gower, trainer of Morgan Dollar, was notified by the Stewards that the gelding must trial over 1000m to the satisfaction of Stewards before racing again.

Arinos jumped away awkwardly, shifted out bumping Rostova wider on the track.

Reward For Effort shifted out to obtain clear running rounding the home turn near the 200m and in doing so, inconvenienced Solchow which in turn shifted out and forced Keano wider on the track.

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