Hay List: connections contemplating delaying return by a week
PICTURE: Getty ImagesHay List return might be delayed by a week
Australia: A fit and healthy Hay List is ready to resume his career after a lengthy injury break - but maybe not this week.
Peter Moody's plan to run Black Caviar in Saturday's Lightning Stakes at Flemington has thrown a spanner in the works with Hay List's connections now considering the Oakleigh Plate for his return.
Co-owner Peter Davenport said they were not afraid of Black Caviar but the commonsense path might be to wait a week if she turned up on Saturday.
"It came as a surprise to me when Peter Moody said he was thinking of backing her up," Davenport said. "We all had a conference this morning and decided we may have to reprogramme.
"We have to consider what we're up against and when Peter Moody decides what he's doing we'll decide what we're doing.
"Hopefully he decides early in the weekbut he doesn't have to make up his mind until 7.30 on Saturday morning.
"An early decision would be beneficial for us so we could prepare mentally and physically for the wonder from down under as I heard her called.
"It's put us in a spot. I have every respect for both the trainer and the mare. If he reckons she can back up then Hay List might not run despite the fact he's ready."
Hay List and Black Caviar were among 16 nominations taken on Monday for the Lightning down the straight 1000-metre course at Flemington.
The 2011 Lightning Stakes was the first of three Group 1 races Hay List finished second in last autumn, each time behind Black Caviar.
In between the other two, the TJ Smith and the BTC Cup, Hay List picked up a Group 1 in her absence, dominating the field in the All-Aged Stakes.
He was favourite for the Doomben 10,000 in May but was withdrawn with what subsequently turned out to be a life-threatening infection in a leg.
He spent some time at the Randwick Equine Centre and several months at trainer John McNair's NSW Central Coast property being nursed back to health.
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