Best sprinter in the world?

[arganaut2]

Hay List finally has his moment in the sun

Hay List finally snared the major victory Black Caviar had cruelly denied him when he scored a historic win in today's $1 million Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

The New South Wales, trained at Gosford by John McNair, star set a metric weight-carrying record when he carted 58.5kg to a thrilling win over Buffering in Australia's most prestigious sprint race.

It was the heaviest weight carried to victory in Newmarket since Gold Stakes carted the equivalent of 60kg to victory in 1959 and jockey Glyn Schofield was thrilled to see his prized mount have his time in the sun.

“I felt going down to the barriers that he was looking around saying, ‘where is she?',” Schofield in reference to Hay List's nemesis Black Caviar. “He had a lot of horses to look through, but he couldn't find her.

“But all jokes aside, we're happy with the win. I'm just grateful this fella's got his name up in the winner's stall.”

The victory added to a remarkable record that hasn't got the recognition it deserved because of Black Caviar.

Hay List has now won three Group 1s, following victories in the 2010 Manikato Stakes and last year's All Aged Stakes, and the only time he's been beaten in the past seven starts has been four Group 1 second placings to Black Caviar.

The six-year-old son of Statue Of Liberty only jumped moderately in the Newmarket, but Schofield pushed through to race in the clear to the outside of leading duo Rain Affair and Buffering, who set the pace on the inside half of the track.

Hay List travelled sweetly until around the 400m, when Schofield started urging him along and while he responded he had a fight on his hands the 200m when Buffering kicked strongly.

Hay List ($3.80 fav) knuckled down gamely over the final 100m to nab the Queenslander, who started at $21, on the line and score by a half-head.

The result franked the form of the Lightning Stakes, when Hay List and Buffering ran second and third to Black Caviar, while Lightning fourth placegetter Foxwedge ($7.50) was a further two lengths away third in the Newmarket.

Outside the placegetters, Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready ($151) flashed home from third-last at the 400m to finish fourth, while Buffering's stablemate, Oakleigh Plate winner Woorim ($21), also did his best work late to run fifth.

Schofield said Hay List didn't travel all that sweetly and did a good job to register the 15th win of his 22-start career under the monster impost.

“With the big weight he wanted to race a little bit too much too early and I was trying to fight him, not too much, but just enough to get him back in behind Foxwedge and get a trail off that horse,” the jockey said.

“I said to John (McNair) early on I didn't want to really make him carry his weight all the way, I just wanted to make him carry it inside the last furlong if I could.

“He hit the front probably inside the last furlong and he felt it, but fortunately he didn't have one mare (Black Caviar) to chase down today.”

- Racing Victoria

[arganaut2]

Just on 45 minutes until Australia's 'Incredible Hulk' - Hay List - gets his chance to add another Gr 1 to his resume, this time the Gr 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

[Georgerz]

I read that Hay List did not win this race. Any details available?

[arganaut2]

Hay List was beaten 3/4 length by the up and coming 3YO colt by Fastnet Rock, Foxwedge.

Foxwedge is now headed to Royal Ascot to contest the big sprints.

A report valued him at A$10million after this race - his first Group 1 win.

Fastnet Rock is a son of Danehill and fast becoming his best sire son ever in this part of the world.

Hay List battled a foot abscess all week leading up to the race and was inspected by the vets on arrival at the track before being cleared to run.

The way he veered out over the last 50m indicated he may have been feeling the foot.

The interesting thing here is with Buffering finishing third, the same three horses - Hay List, Buffering, Foxwedge - finished 2nd, 3rd & 4th behind Black Caviar in the Gr 1 Lightning Stakes, then without Black Caviar, finished 1st, 2nd & 3rd respectively next start in the Gr 1 Newmarket Handicap and now, in the Gr 1 William Reid Stakes, filled the placings again albeit in a different order.

Here is the race - http://www.racingnetwork.com.au/power-tracker-william-reid-stakes/tabid/87/date/2012-03-23/race/6/trackid/33/default.aspx and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVW89z37Ukg and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8HNJbYpNDU

[arganaut2]

Hay List had colic surgery this week and will be recovering for sometime.

[arganaut2]

We lost today one of the true greats of Australian and New Zealand racing.

Tom Brassel, 80, will be remembered as a Legend of racing journalism.

His sad passing will be felt far and wide across Australia and the Tasman.

Our sincere condolences go out to his family and many friends.

[arganaut2]

Caviar Returns

Confirmation of Black Caviar’s next start came after a Caulfield jumpout

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWU-3UARRXE

Adelaide's $400,000 Group 1 Sportingbet Classic will be the scene for Black Caviar's attempt at a 20th career win.

Trainer Peter Moody said after a jumpout at Caulfield this morning that the champion mare would be in need of a start in the 1200-metre event for fillies and mares', to be run at Morphettville, on Saturday week, 28 April.

It is the first of a two-race South Australian raid for Black Caviar, who will then progress to the $500,000 Group 1 Goodwood, also at Morphettville, on Saturday 12 May before heading to England to represent Australia at Royal Ascot in June.

“Had she pulled up very clean in the wind it would have suggested we were ahead of the game and she wouldn't have required a run, there would have just been no reason to do it,” Moody said.

“But my line of reasoning is that she's such a big, gross-doing filly, if I don't give her the two runs (in Adelaide) she's going to need a fair bit of work.

“They are Group 1s and they're worth half-a-million dollars.”

This morning's 800m trial was a stock-standard hit out for the unbeaten daughter of Bel Esprit, who hasn't been to the races since her memorable win over Hay List in the Group 1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on 18 February.

After jumping slightly tardily from an inside barrier, she quickly mustered and led by as much as 10 lengths mid-trial before being eased down over the concluding stages by race jockey Luke Nolen to win in 45.99 seconds.

“It was good,” Moody said post-jumpout. “Her action was good, on pulling up she was having a nice blow, so she's pretty much where we want her.”

- Racing Victoria

[erins isle]

Hi Arganout,

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/revved-up-for-a-racing-legend/story-e6frea6u-1226335632091

This was sent by a friend of mine!
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The more I get to know people, the more I love animals.

[Georgerz]

Black Caviar won the 20th in a row, undefeated. What a great racemare!!!

[erins isle]

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/black-caviar-australia-caviar-sets-new-record-with-20th-victory/1023064/international/

What an exceptional mare this is!


Everyone down under must be so proud of her!
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The more I get to know people, the more I love animals.

[arganaut2]

Hi Folks,

Just got back from witnessing the Champion's 20th win!

It was simply amazing, a sell-out 30,000 crowd (same meeting last year got 4000!!!) provided an unbelievable atmosphere, very similar to when Makybe Diva won three straight Melbourne Cups!

It was an awesome day - as good as racing gets!

To top it off I had the rare privilege to give the Champion mare a kiss after the race - does it get any better!!

Arganaut

[wilf]

That's great Arga, Adelaide is a lovely city ,how on earth did they get 30,000 into Morphettville? I have great memories of a few autumn carnivals there in the 70's and would love to have been there to watch the big mare. Oh well.

[arganaut2]

The great mare is all set to do it again this Saturday - 21 from 21 - in the Gr 1 Goodwood before another sell-out 30,000 then head to Royal Ascot for the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (previously known as the Golden Jubilee).

Here is the field she is up against on Saturday -

http://www.racenet.com.au/form/race-form-race-aap-nr.asp?venue=MORP&mdate=120512&race=7

Her trackwork this morning even surprised her trainer, Peter Moody.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/superracing/black-caviars-effortless-trackwork-astounds-peter-moody/story-fn67rs0f-1226350183585

The Champion mare has also been decorated with her own stamp!

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/black-caviar-gets-bookies-stamp-of-approval-before-goodwood-gallop-20120508-1yb69.html

One of the greatest sporting events in Australia is the AFL Grand Final in front of 90-100,000 and there is talk this year the officials want the half-time entertainment to be - not Lionel Richie or Meatloaf (as in the past years) - but Black Caviar herself!!!

http://www.backpagelead.com.au/afl/6383-caviar-on-menu-at-grand-final-

[arganaut2]

The Champion mare - a Global Phenomenon

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/superracing/black-caviar-a-global-celebrity/story-fn67tkww-1226351493127

Black Caviar to be given keys to the city

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/horseracing/city-of-marion-to-give-keys-to-black-caviar-20120509-1yd2j.html

Legend caller Alf Gard never seen anything like Black Caviar

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/racing-veterans-black-caviar-call/story-e6frecj3-1226351362560

[Bast]

What a spectacular mare! I hope there will be a DVD compiling all of her races!

(Even if it's a Region 4 disk, my DVD players can handle it...)
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May 2013: Plan ahead now for the Phalaris/Teddy Centennial!
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A horse gallops with his lungs
Perseveres with his heart
And wins with his character. --Tesio