Racing: Battle goes on for top sprinter Hay List

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Spring plans for Hay List are in doubt with the top sprinter suffering another setback as he battles to recover from the leg infection which ended his winter campaign.

Trainer John McNair thought Hay List was finally overcoming the problem late last week but the infected area has swelled again.

"If this doesn't improve soon the spring might be out," McNair said.

"I won't look at anything until I'm comfortable the horse is over everything. When he's back in work I'll start thinking about looking for races then."

The problem first surfaced on the eve of last month's Doomben 10,000 and forced Hay List to be sensationally scratched from the group one for which he was odds-on favourite.

A subsequent bout of colic, believed to have been brought on as a result of the antibiotics the gelding was treated with, also hindered his recovery.

McNair said the situation was "quite distressing" especially in light of the recent death of Hot Danish who succumbed to an infection caused by a leg injury.

Hay List has not raced since his spirited second to champion Black Caviar in the group one BTC Cup at Doomben on May 14.

- AAP