Hay List to shed Black Caviar shadow

Hay List can finally step out of what his owners call the "Black Shadow" and prove to be a sprint sensation in his own right by winning today's $1 million Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington, according to Racing Victoria racing manager Greg Carpenter.

With his nemesis Black Caviar away preparing for an international assault, Hay List remains a $3.90 favourite with Player to record his third, but probably most important, Group 1 victory.

Carpenter revealed this week he had recommended to the international handicapping committee that Hay List's rating of 122 by increased to 124. He believes his argument will become stronger if the hulking sprinter can overcome what he believes is one of the strongest Newmarket fields seen for some time.

Bred and owned by WA's Davenport family, the gelding has finished second to the mighty Black Caviar in four Group 1 races, giving rise to claims from critics that he is perhaps the unluckiest potential champion in racing history.

Some claim he is to racing what Stuart MacGill was to Australian cricket as his immense skills were overshadowed by the unique brilliance of spin sensation Shane Warne.

Hay List's extraordinary talent was laid bare in his latest defeat by Black Caviar when he stretched the unbeaten mare's neck like never before with just 1 3/4 lengths separating them at the end of the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 18.

The race became famous for Black Caviar breaking the 10sec. barrier for a 200m section between the 600m and 400m marks in just 9.98. Hay List was right there with her, running the same sectional in just 10.04. The daughter of Bel Esprit stopped the clock at a ridiculous 55.53sec.

Black Caviar remains at the head of the international sprint ratings at 132, with Singapore star Rocket Man next on 125, ahead of Melbourne's Dubai-bound Sepoy (123) and Hay List (122).

But Carpenter said Hay List's time was now if he was to prove his potential. Lumping 58.5kg, he will carry the heaviest weight to Newmarket victory since Gold Stakes (1959) if successful.

"Unless he can stamp himself in the next 12 months and win multiple Group 1 races, he might be a horse that might fade into the history books," Carpenter said.

"All the focus will be on Black Caviar unless he can really accumulate more than his current two Group 1 wins. He's got a golden opportunity to make his own piece of history this week because it really is one of the strongest Newmarkets we've had.

"He's got to carry 58.5kg and you've got to go back a long way to find a horse who has been able to win the Newmarket with that weight. It's a pivotal, watershed moment for Hay List as far as making his own piece of Australian racing history.

"He's an outstanding sprinter of rare talent, but horses who lived in Phar Lap's era and others who have been in the shadow of champions suffer the consequence of that. From a number of points of view, the Newmarket is an extraordinarily important race for him."

But for all the disappointment and the many thousands of dollars in prize money his owners have watched pour into the coffers of Black Caviar's connections, Hay List remains a star in the eyes of the Davenports.

Part-owner Katie Davenport conceded the unknowns of today's Newmarket meant that it would be as much a nerve-wracking experience as ever.

"It's a massive race and such a prestigious race with so much history," Davenport said.

"But it's great to be there, he's going really well and better than anything, it's just great to have him back.

"It's a bit of a relief the Black Shadow won't be there, but you'd be crazy to think that just because she's not there that it will make it that much easier.

"The race is a handicap and there's so many variables so there's no relief, but he is a great horse.

"A lot of people told me, when I first got involved in racing, that you just can't treat racehorses like pets because they're not.

"But we go one better with our horses and not just Hay List - they're almost family, not just pets. Especially him because he's raced in so many States and been such a strong competitor and he's been through so much.

"He's a big dude and such a cool dude and you can't not be really so ridiculously proud of what he's done. It's so hard to put into words what he means and what this race means, but it's so exciting to be a part of it."

"He's got a golden opportunity to make his own piece of history this week." "Racing Victoria racing manager *Greg Carpenter *