While Hay List is off the scene, his younger half-brother Sound Of The Ocean improved the family’s strike-rate with a fast-finishing victory in the Schweppes Maiden Hcp (1100m) at Gosford on Thursday.

It was an eye-catching debut by Sound Of The Ocean.  He has been placed in trials at Wyong and Gosford in May and was kept safe in the market as a $6.50 second favourite first time out.  Jockey Diego Lima settled him midfield off fast sectionals and the gelding closed quickly to defeat Mighty Mandi (Commands) and Subic Bay (Johannesburg)

Sound Of The Ocean (3g Delzao – Sing Hallelujah by Is It True) is trained by John McNair and has taken more time to develop than Hay List.   “He will be more of a distance horse but looks very promising,” owner-breeder Terry Davenport declared.  “He’s magnificently conformed and certainly looks the part.”

Delzao (Encosta de Lago) stands at Manner Lodge at Rochester in Victoria.  He reached G2 level with a resounding victory over Makybe Diva in the 2004 Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley.  

Delzao also had the G1 VRC Australian Cup won for all money earlier that year until Lonhro produced arguably his best ever performances to beat him a head.

Terry Davenport and his wife Liz have developed Hay List’s family from four-time Belmont winner Sing Hallelujah.

The mare foaled Hay List to Eliza Park sire Statue Of Liberty and, besides Sound Of The Ocean, has a yearling filly by Delzao and a weanling colt by Statue Of Liberty.  She is due to deliver another Statue Of Liberty foal in November.

Meanwhile, Hay List is on the mend after recovering from a foot abscess and colic in Brisbane.  He will spell for a minimum of eight weeks and connections have all but ruled out a spring campaign in Melbourne.