Connections of Hay List are keen to take the powerhouse sprinter to Dubai for the rich Golden Shaheen if he wins Saturday's Lightning Stakes at Flemington.The huge gelding, who weighs 610kg, arrived at his Bellarine Peninsula base southwest of Melbourne on Thursday morning fighting fit for the much-awaited clash with unbeaten star Black Caviar who is after her ninth straight victory.Trainer John McNair believes Hay List will make a contest of the rematch after their only meeting to date in the P
Connections of Hay List are keen to take the powerhouse sprinter to Dubai for the rich Golden Shaheen if he wins Saturday's Lightning Stakes at Flemington.
The huge gelding, who weighs 610kg, arrived at his Bellarine Peninsula base southwest of Melbourne on Thursday morning fighting fit for the much-awaited clash with unbeaten star Black Caviar who is after her ninth straight victory.
Trainer John McNair believes Hay List will make a contest of the rematch after their only meeting to date in the Patinack Farm Classic last spring proved to be a fizzer with him being beaten 11 lengths into second-last place.
"You could never be confident against that mare, but he's great," McNair said.
"He worked on Wednesday morning at Gosford. I rode him myself and I was very happy with him.
"He's as fit as I can get him first-up. He looks tremendous and he's ready for the contest.
"Let's just hope the track conditions are suitable for a decent race."
Flemington track manager Mick Goodie rated the going a good (3) on Friday.
But with persistent rain predicted for Friday night and Saturday morning he predicted the track could be a dead (5) or a slow (6) at worst when he does an inspection at 5am (AEDT) on Saturday.
"We're an unknown after we get past a slow track and I don't think he handles the slow that well even though he's won on slow so I would be looking for a dead track at worst if possible," McNair said.
The trainer said Hay List would either go from the Lightning to the $1 million Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Flemington on March 12 or The Golden Shaheen (1200m) at Meydan on March 26.
"If he was to win the Lightning he would probably go to the Golden Shaheen," McNair said.
"It's worth a lot of money and it fits in with the (owners) Davenport family's plans.
"They are apparently opening up stores in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) and, of course, that horse would give them a fair bit of profile up there you'd think."
The Lightning is the first leg of the 2011 Global Sprint Challenge taking in nine Group One events in five countries - three in the United Kingdom, two in Australia and Japan, and one in Singapore and Hong Kong.
But apart from the possible trip to the UAE, McNair showed little interest in taking Hay List overseas.
"The Davenport family have the final say but my advice to them would be to stay home. I think there is enough money in the southern hemisphere without taking him across to the other side of the world," McNair said.
Hay List has drawn the outside barrier in the 10-horse race and McNair has left race tactics to jockey Glyn Schofield.
Trainer Peter Moody wasn't perturbed about Hay List being drawn outside Black Caviar (barrier seven) nor the going being too wet for his mare who has won three times on dead going but hasn't raced on worse than that.
"We're only going five furlongs (1000m) up the straight and most of the track will be untouched," he said.
"She'll do her own thing. They'll pretty much come up the crown to the outside and probably stay in their lanes."
Black Caviar retains her place as $1.40 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Hay List at $5, reigning Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily at $16 with comeback sprinter King Pulse at $21.