Hay List isn't quite as fit as his trainer would like going into Saturday's Challenge Stakes but the fact he is racing at all is testament to John McNair's perseverance.

The triple Group One winning sprinter has a history of injury and illness that would have ended the careers of many.

His latest serious setback was a double whammy when he injured his knee as he tried to stand up after an emergency colic operation in April.

His appearance in a special gallop between races at Warwick Farm on Saturday prompted spontaneous applause from the small crowd while McNair held his breath until he came back to the enclosure.

"We are playing catch-up a bit. His fitness levels are not quite where I'd like them," McNair said.

"Hay List being Hay List, he got a bit of an infection in a hind hoof and we lost about ten days.

"He will work at Gosford on Wednesday and all being well he goes to the Challenge Stakes."

Hay List wore blinkers in his Warwick Farm work-out over 1000 metres, coming home his last 600 in a slick 33.26 seconds.

"I wanted him to run 33 so I'm pretty pleased," McNair said.

"His action looked good and that's the main thing."

His regular partner Glyn Schofield has ridden him in several work-outs in the past few weeks and said the seven-year-old was coming along well.

"Even though John put the blinkers on, he was still pretty casual," he said.

"It was his most testing work yet and I eased down on him in the last 50 (metres) so it was a nice slick time."

The Group Two Challenge (1100m) is expected to attract a crack field of sprinters including fellow Group One winners Mrs Onassis, Temple Of Boom and Atomic Force as well as two Golden Slipper runners-up Snitzerland (2012) and Decision Time (2010).

Hay List won the 2011 Challenge Stakes at the beginning of a four start campaign which yielded two Group One seconds behind Black Caviar and his own top level victory in the All Aged Stakes.

AAP TU