Trainer John McNair is hoping for at least three lengths improvement from glamour sprinter Hay List in the Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.McNair sounded the ominous warning after the five-year-old was the star performer at Monday morning's special Moonee Valley gallops ahead of Friday night's meeting.With race rider Glyn Schofield aboard, Hay List sat off the Leon Corstens-trained Strike The Tiger in the 1000-metre hitout and surged over the last 400 metres in 24.03s to win gallop by
Trainer John McNair is hoping for at least three lengths improvement from glamour sprinter Hay List in the Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.
McNair sounded the ominous warning after the five-year-old was the star performer at Monday morning's special Moonee Valley gallops ahead of Friday night's meeting.
With race rider Glyn Schofield aboard, Hay List sat off the Leon Corstens-trained Strike The Tiger in the 1000-metre hitout and surged over the last 400 metres in 24.03s to win gallop by more than length.
"To my eye he looks the best he's looked since he's been with me and he also looks the fittest he's looked since he's been with me," McNair said.
"I am happy enough with him and hoping for three or four lengths improvement.
The former West Australian sprinter posted his 10th win from 12 starts when he flogged a Group Three field in the McEwen Stakes (1000m) at the Valley on September 11.
Such was the dominance of his 1-1/2 length win over Catapulted and Reward For Effort that he jumped eight rating points to 110.
At his only other two starts for McNair, who trains at Gosford on the NSW central coast, Hay List ran second to Love Conquers All in the Listed June Stakes at Randwick on June 12 and won the Group Three Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm on June 26.
The Manikato Stakes is his first test at Group One level and McNair says he is feeling the weight of expectation on Friday night.
Hay List is based at a beachside location outside Geelong away from the public gaze.
"I will be a lot happier when it is done and dusted and over with," McNair aid.
"There is so much expectation on him and it sort of places you under a little bit of pressure.
"You have got to have few things go your way in Group Ones. Barriers are important, track surface and pattern of racing."
McNair said Hay List over-raced last start when fresh but he expected him to settle much better on Friday night.
"He has proven that he is probably at his best when second-up," McNair said.
On Monday there were 12 horses nominated for the Manikato Stakes and only dual Group One winner All Silent (117) has a higher rating than Hay List in the feature.
Former Gai Waterhouse-trained sprinter Bank Robber, who was third to All Silent in last year's Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington, is set to have his first start for Mark Kavanagh in the Manikato while Peter Moody has entered Reward For Effort as well as Saturday's Listed Testa Rossa Stakes winner Avenue.
Other notable entries are Group One placegetters Eagle Falls, Latin News, and Stanzout as well as Love Conquers All and last start winner Perturbo.