MIC MAC’S MEMSIE MAKES SEVEN & HAY LISTS SIX

Statue of Liberty’s dynamic duo – Mic Mac and Hay List – have fired up the imagination on both sides of the Nullabor with emphatic victories today (Saturday).

Mic Mac, facing his biggest task to date, recorded his seventh win from eight starts by taking out the time honoured Memsie Stakes-G2 (1400m) at Caulfield, while Hay List remains unbeaten with his sixth straight victory over the 1400m at Belmont.

The authority of Mic Mac’s win raised as many questions as it provided answers: namely … just how good is this horse?

In his first test at weight-for-age level against an outstanding field, the Greg Eurell trained Mic Mac was speared to the lead relatively easily by jockey Danny Nikolic and dictated the tempo throughout.

The 2009 Memsie participants boasted more than $20 million in prize money between them, including two Melbourne Cup winners, plus the winners of a Cox Plate, AJC Derby, BMW, Emirates Stakes and Crown Oaks.

After the race Greg Eurell admitted he had some doubts in the middle stages of the race and thinks Mic Mac can continue to step up.

“It was a little tense when they straightened but he dug deep and that’s a good sign.

“We’re still looking to the Dato Tan Chin Nam ($505,000 Group Two over 1600m at Moonee Valley on 12 September) and that race would probably be run a little different over the mile.

“That would be the pivotal point (the Dato) for this horse at this stage.

“He’s a quality galloper and quality gallopers can do some things they’re not supposed to do sometimes,” Greg added.

Jockey Dan Nikolic is clearly excited about Mic Mac’s future.

“He’s a very good horse. He jumped out today and had it pretty soft for the first half mile. I think if he was sat back in a good race he would be much better.

“He’s got the potential to be a real top liner. He’s cool, calm and collected. I’d say there’s no issue at all at a mile.

Perhaps even longer? There is some talk that Mic Mac will tackle the Cox Plate-G1 and possibly set up a showdown with exciting Bel Esprit 3YO, Black Caviar.

Meanwhile, out west, Hay List continued his tremendous streak, leading from go to whoa in the Father Brian Celebration Trophy.

Perthracing.com.au reports: The son of Statue Of Liberty was sent to the top by rider Jason Brown and when he asked him to quicken in the home running, he sprinted quickly, putting the race well and truly beyond doubt, stopping the clock at a slick 1.21.99.

It was the sixth straight win for Hay List, but easily one of the more convincing wins of his career.

The Jim Taylor trained 4YO is yet to fail during his career and one would think he will make the top grade over the summer months.

McLurch chased home hard in second place, but he was no match for the winner, who was eased down over the final 75m.

The remainder of the field only struggled.

Following the race, trainer Jim Taylor said: “He’s like a Rolls Royce. He has plenty of gears and is a pretty exciting horse. It wasn’t the top grade today, but he looks as though he will measure up in the future.”

Winning jockey, Jason Brown, was even more direct: “He’s one of the more exciting horses that I have ridden in my career.”

Surely this bloke isn’t far off a trip to either Sydney or Melbourne for the spring.