MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE FARM ...

Good news from the Racing Network.

John McNair described himself as a kid waiting for Christmas as Hay List moved a step closer to a miracle return to the races with a sizzling gallop at Warwick Farm yesterday.

Glyn Schofield let the powerhouse sprinter rip over the final 600m of the gallop, stopping the clock at 33.26secs - indicating he is on track for the Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Warwick Farm next Saturday.

“I was disappointed with the time until I heard what More Joyous ran (34.95secs),” McNair said.

“I came here expecting him to break 33 secs but I am very happy.

“I feel like a six-year-old waiting for Christmas, it is exciting.”

Schofield was pleasantly surprised with time of the hit-out given he was kind to the seven-year-old sprinter close to the winning post.

“He doesn’t feel like he is going that quick,” he said.

“It was the same in the trial, we went much quicker than I thought.”

Hay List hasn’t raced since finishing second in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley in March 2012.

He has since had life threatening surgery to repair a shattered knee incurred during an operation for colic.

McNair believes Hay List will be short of a run in the Challenge Stakes despite the strong hit-out.

“Ideally I would love another two weeks with him but we had a set back early on in the preparation and it put us 10 days behind,” he said.

“We need to run next week, we need to start his preparation so he is ready for the TJ Smith Stakes (April 13).”