The highly anticipated showdown between two of Australia’s premier sprinters has been delayed with the withdrawal of Hay List from this Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2 Schweppes Stakes (1200m) at Cox Plate Day this Saturday.
John McNair’s classy gelding Hay List was set to meet with Peter Moody’s unbeaten mare Black Caviar in the 2010 Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley this Saturday, however the clash of the super sprinters will have to wait with Hay List not paid up for at acceptance stage this morning.
Hay List, a winner of 12 of his 14 starts including his recent victories in the Manikato Stakes and Gilgai Stakes, had an elevated temperature yesterday.
Blood tests will be done today, but McNair decided not to run Hay List on Saturday as a precaution.
The Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day, November 6 is now the main spring aim for the impressive Perth galloper.
There were six horses paid up for in the Schweppes Stakes, with Moody’s four-year-old mare Black Caviar leading the field.
Black Caviar is out to continue her unbeaten record having won all six of her career starts including her first-up blitz in the Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield earlier in the month.
Drawn ideally in barrier two, Black Caviar will be ridden by stable jockey Luke Nolen on Saturday.
The Schweppes Stakes is now primed to be a showdown of the top females, with the other most notable acceptor being Les Bridges’ star mare Hot Danish.
Drawn on the rails in barrier one, Hot Danish has won both of her spring starts and will be out to show she can win in Melbourne after a failed campaign here last year.
The other sprinters in the Schweppes Stakes field out to cause an upset are Mick Price’s consistent four-year-old True Persuasion and the David Hayes-trained Eagle Falls who finished two-three to Hay List in the Manikato Stakes here last start; Redoute’s Choice mare Melito resuming racing for the season; and eight-year-old Stanzout.
The 2010 Schweppes Stakes is scheduled as Race 5 at Moonee Valley on Saturday due to jump at 3:20pm (AEDST).
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2010 Schweppes Stakes Field, Barrier Draw & Weights
| # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight (kg) | Handicapper Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EAGLE FALLS | David Hayes | Damien Oliver | 3 | 58.5 | 108 |
| 2 | STANZOUT | Colin Davies | Craig Williams | 5 | 58.5 | 104 |
| 3 | TRUE PERSUASION | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 6 | 58.5 | 97 |
| 4 | HOT DANISH | Les Bridge | Tim Clark | 1 | 56.5 | 117 |
| 5 | MELITO | Gerald Ryan | Corey Brown | 4 | 56.5 | 114 |
| 6 | BLACK CAVIAR | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 2 | 56.5 | 111 |
