A day after trainer John McNair slammed the weight given to Hay List in the Newmarket Handicap, connections have declared the star sprinter will tackle the Group One sprint.Hay List was handicapped on 58.5kg for the March 10 feature at Flemington and will have to set a modern-day weight-carrying record to win.McNair said on Tuesday he would be recommending to owners the Davenport family that Hay List not take his place in the field and described Hay List's handicap as "beyond ridiculous".But on

A day after trainer John McNair slammed the weight given to Hay List in the Newmarket Handicap, connections have declared the star sprinter will tackle the Group One sprint.

Hay List was handicapped on 58.5kg for the March 10 feature at Flemington and will have to set a modern-day weight-carrying record to win.

McNair said on Tuesday he would be recommending to owners the Davenport family that Hay List not take his place in the field and described Hay List's handicap as "beyond ridiculous".

But on Wednesday, part-owner Peter Davenport confirmed Hay List as a Newmarket starter.

For the gelding's regular rider Glyn Schofield, the decision meant some hasty calls to trainers.

He had already taken rides at Warwick Farm on Newmarket day, including Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker in the Chipping Norton Stakes.

But the path was cleared for him to maintain his association with Hay List and Schofield can't wait.

"He's a star in my eyes and he's only been beaten because Black Caviar has been around and the handicappers have taken that view obviously," Schofield said.

"He was always going to get topweight because he's the highest-rated horse in the race, that's fine.

"But whether or not he's well in or badly in against the rest, I'm just happy to go down and ride him."

Hay List has three kilos more than Saturday's Oakleigh Plate winner Woorim and boom Sydney sprinter Rain Affair.

He will concede 8.5kg to the likes of three-year-old Foxwedge.

"Whether or not he can create his own little piece of history by winning the race we'll know after the race," Schofield said.

"He's fit and well and he's trained on after the Lightning Stakes."

Peter Davenport said despite their nerves about Hay List's task, he and the gelding's fellow owners were keen to roll the dice.

"We're very wary of some of the horses at the lighter weights and also some of the horses in the middle, the Rain Affairs and Bufferings," Davenport said on Sky Sports Radio.

"Based on his recent work we think he's improved and he can make a clash of this."

Davenport also said the feature sprint had long been on Hay List's autumn radar and despite McNair's comments on Tuesday, the trainer had continued to prepare Hay List for a Newmarket start.

"Much respect to John. A lot of what he has said is absolutely true and everyone would agree with that," Davenport said.

"But it didn't change his focus in training the horse for this race and ultimately the target of the TJ Smith."