Trainer John McNair says he never lost confidence in Hay List who delivered one of the great Newmarket Handicap wins of the modern era.McNair resurrected Hay List from a life-threatening leg infection last spring to land Australia's premier 1200-metre sprint at Flemington on Saturday with the highest weight (58.5kg) since Gold Sakes won with 60kg in 1959.As brave as a lion, he drew on all his reserves as he plotted a path in the centre of the track and chased down Buffering to score in the last

Trainer John McNair says he never lost confidence in Hay List who delivered one of the great Newmarket Handicap wins of the modern era.

McNair resurrected Hay List from a life-threatening leg infection last spring to land Australia's premier 1200-metre sprint at Flemington on Saturday with the highest weight (58.5kg) since Gold Sakes won with 60kg in 1959.

As brave as a lion, he drew on all his reserves as he plotted a path in the centre of the track and chased down Buffering to score in the last breathtaking moment by a half-head.

"He's his own history maker today," jockey Glyn Schofield said.

Hay List had posted four Group One seconds to champion mare Black Caviar but she wasn't at Flemington on Saturday after beating him for the second year in a row in the Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington three weeks ago.

McNair said he was fairly confident Hay List would get the job done in the Newmarket.

"I knew he was a better horse than the other day and he certainly needed to be to win the race," McNair said.

"We came here fairly confident and I said more than a week ago I felt he had improved two lengths."

McNair told Schofield not to worry about race tactics and ride Hay List like he "was the best horse in the race".

"It was really the (firm) track conditions that I was more concerned about and the fact I had seen plenty of horses produce a career-best performance first-up and second-up slide away," McNair said.

McNair had been highly critical of the weight Hay List had to carry and was against running in the Newmarket but was overruled by managing owner Terry Davenport.

McNair said on Saturday the weight wasn't his worry going into the race.

"I said to Glyn forget about the weight. He carries it every time he starts, and just ride the race like you normally would," he said.

Chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said Hay List's win was one of the greatest-ever performances in the Newmarket.

"It's a great moment in racing at Flemington," Carpenter said.

"We are really appreciative the connections decided to take up the challenge (with the weight) because otherwise they would have been deprived of probably one of the great moments they will ever have in horseracing."

Hay List has had a long history of feet problems but has won 15 of his 22 starts including three Group One races.

He suffered his leg infection after he finished second to Black Caviar in last year's Group One BTC Cup which forced him to miss the spring.

He also finished second to Black Caviar in the TJ Smith in Sydney last year.

Black Caviar won last year's Newmarket carrying 58kg but Hay List was scratched from the race.

Buffering was a courageous second on Saturday and three-year-old Foxwedge, who raced alongside Hay List, held on well for third.

Phelan Ready rocketed home from the near last to finish fourth ahead of Oakleigh Plate winner Woorim (fifth) and Rain Affair (sixth).