Star sprinter Hay List is unlikely to return home to Perth for a cameo appearance in the G2 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.

Trainer John McNair has indicated Hay List will be set for the G1 Patinack Farm Classic at headquarters on November 6 before going out for a spell.  Unfortunately for his home town fans, that rules out a start in the $750,000 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot on November 27.

“He needs a summer break so that we can work on his feet,” McNair explained.  “He’s got extremely thin soled feet and thin walls.  They’re only about 85% right.”

Hay List continued his domination of Melbourne’s spring sprints in the G2 Gilgai Stakes at Flemington last Saturday.  The gun gelding cruised home by more than a length and got within a second of the straight-six record despite not being fully wound up by jockey Glyn Schofield.

Hay List (5g Statue Of Liberty – Sing Hallelujah by Is It True) is a homebred for West Australian breeder Terry Davenport and his wife Liz.  He won eight from eight in Perth before pulling up lame in the G3 Colonel Reeves at Ascot last November.  His only other loss in 14 starts was a first-up second to Love Conquers All in the Listed June Stakes at Randwick.

A fortnight later, McNair sent him to Eagle Farm for an electrifying five length victory in the G3 Healy Stakes and he resumed this season with runaways at Moonee Valley in the G3 McEwen Stakes and G1 Manikato Stakes prior to Sunday’s stunning win at Flemington.

Hay List’s dam Sing Hallelujah won races at Belmont (4) and Northam for the Davenports and Bunbury trainer Chris Stelmach.

She has been as regular as clockwork at stud but none of her other foals are in the same league as Hay List.  His 4yo sister Golden Statue and 3yo half-brother Sound Of The Ocean (Delzao) are still waiting to face the starter.  The Davenports sent Golden Statue to McNair after winning a Belmont trial earlier this year while Sound Of The Ocean is stabled with Bob Turrell at Ascot.

Sing Hallelujah has a yearling filly by Delzao and she foaled another colt by Statue Of Liberty on August 28.