Hay List: misses the Doomben 1,000 after sustaining an injury
PICTURE: Getty ImagesHay List a shock scratching at Doomben
Preview: Australia, Saturday 7am BST (live on ATR)
Doomben (Brisbane): Doomben 10,000 (Group 1) 6½f, turf, 3yo+
THE Doomben 10,000 in Brisbane on Saturday morning will take place without top sprinter Hay List, who has been scratched after trainer John McNair found swelling in his off-hind leg late on Friday.
McNair immediately called in a veterinarian who notified Racing Queensland stewards the gelding required anti-inflammatory treatment and was unable to start.
The injury is expected to sideline Hay List for the remainder of the Brisbane winter carnival.
Beaten four times by superstar sprinter Black Caviar, Hay List underwent X-rays and scans on his hind leg late on Friday to determine the extent of his injury.
Hay List's shock scratching has thrown the race wide open with the Peter Snowden-trained Beaded the new favourite at $3 with Love Conquers All at $3.40.
Love Conquers All represents the John Hawkes camp, which greeted news of Hay List's absence with mixed feelings.
"No-one likes to see things like this happen to good horses like Hay List," Michael Hawkes said. "But at the same time we were always confident of beating him with Love Conquers All.
"I have always maintained our bloke had a great chance even with Hay List in and we'd be hard to beat but with Hay List coming out it's naturally going to be a lot easier."
The Hawkes stable won the Doomben 10,000 in 1997 with Accomplice who later bled for the second time and continued his career in the United States.
Brisbane's leading jockey Chris Munce will also be chasing his second Doomben 10,000 on Love Conquers All, who has been freshened up since finishing second in the Group 1 Doncaster at Randwick in April.
Munce holds the Doomben 10,000 close to his heart after winning the 1350-metre feature aboard Perth sprinter Barrosa Boy in 1992.
"I had just come out of my time as an apprentice and Barrosa Boy was my first Group 1 winner," Munce said.
Munce has come a long way since winning on Barrosa Boy and will be chasing his 43rd win at the highest level on Saturday.
He is one of only seven jockeys to win Australian racing's grand slam of the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Golden Slipper.
Chris Munce: ran out of his skin
PICTURE: Getty ImagesMunce rode Loves Conquers All at his past two starts when runner-up in the Group 1 George Ryder at Rosehill and the Doncaster.
"He cost himself the race in the George Ryder when he went back to the fence in the worst part of the track," Munce said.
"He ran out of his skin in both races and ran into better wet trackers on the day."
Munce rates the weight-for-age scale as Love Conquers All's biggest drawback in the Doomben 10,000.
"Weight-for-age is a negative for him but he's racing well," Munce said.
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