Retirement for Hay List would be a blessing, writes Rod Nicholson

IN retirement, champion mare Black Caviar can go to the breeding barn and command millions for her offspring.

IN retirement, champion mare Black Caviar can go to the breeding barn and command millions for her offspring.

The downer for the only galloper to make her sweat in a race, the durable Hay List, is that he is a gelding.

Retirement for Hay List would abruptly end a wonderful career involving 15 wins and six seconds from 24 starts, and $2,557,075 in prizemoney.

However, that should be the decision facing trainer John McNair and the Davenport clan of owners.

The seven-year-old is a grossly under-appreciated sprinter who, without Black Caviar, would have been the world's highest-rated.

He would have won an extra four Group 1s (instead of finishing second to her).

In April last year, he had surgery for colic during which he took a tumble and smashed his knee. He then picked up a foot abscess, which McNair said would have stopped "98 out of 100 horses, maybe 99 out of 100".

He came back in the Challenge Stakes at Warwick Farm a fortnight ago, fading to fourth, beaten almost 3 1/2 lengths over 1000m. His best may well be behind him.

He had to be scratched from tomorrow's Galaxy at Rosehill because of an ongoing hoof problem.

"The hoof issue wouldn't go away, and by pulling the pin now it gives us a better chance to have Hay List ready for the T.J. Smith (and another clash with Black Caviar at Randwick on April 13)," McNair said.

Stewards have demanded Hay List undergo a vet test before he can race again.

That's understandable for a galloper who has raced only four times in 46 months.

Bluntly, retirement would be a blessing.

Racing folk don't want to see the champ struggle with his health and not perform to his illustrious standards.