Racing: Explosive victory heralds latest star

BRISBANE - A new superstar of the Australian turf might have been unearthed after the explosive win by former Perth sprinter Hay List in the group three Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Jockey Chris Munce rated the 4-year-old as potentially in the same class as his former group one winners Spark Of Life and Dance Hero after he trounced Pinwheel by five lengths in the 1200m feature.

"He's some horse. I'll go anywhere to ride him," Munce said.

"He could have won by seven or eight lengths easily.

"Spark Of Life and Dance Hero have proven themselves by winning at group one level but this bloke has the potential to do the same."

Hay List arrived in Brisbane less than 24 hours before the race after being floated from the Gosford stables of trainer John McNair, who decided to scratch him from the listed Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford on Wednesday because of the wet track.

He has a stable of 25 horses in work but will devote much of his time to Hay List.

McNair originally hails from Western Australia and is a friend of the gelding's previous trainer, Jim Taylor.

"I'm a Western Australian through and through, but Jim must get most of the credit for this horse," McNair said.

"I've known Jim a long time and he used to ride for me."

Hay List was having only his second start in the eastern states after finishing second at his debut for McNair at Randwick last month.

McNair plans to give Hay List a short ease-up before preparing him for the Missile Stakes in Sydney and an autumn campaign in Melbourne next year.

"He'll head for the Missile Stakes next before he goes to Melbourne for the autumn," he said.

"It's going to take a very good horse to beat him in the Oakleigh Plate and then he'll run in the Lightning and Newmarket Handicaps."

McNair's only concern with Hay List is his history of feet problems.

"He's got terribly thin soles and walls in his feet and his previous trainer was fighting a losing battle to get them right," he said.

"Thankfully, I've got an extremely good farrier."

Part-owner Liz Davenport, who runs a string of Australia-wide fashion stores, was on hand to watch her star sprinter's victory.

"I had a vision of him winning," she said, "but nothing like that."

- AAP