Since the withdrawal of Black Caviar last Thursday, all of the Doomben 10,000 focus has been directed to odds-on favourite Hay List.

Many are asking the question should the horse be as short as $1.50?

If you listen to jockey Shane Scriven, though, the answer is a definite YES!

In an unusual move, Scriven got the job of riding Hay List in its final gallop on Wednesday and reported on Sky Sports Radio, that if the same horse turns up in the Doomben 10,000, they won't beat him. 

Turning to other key races at Doomben on Saturday, I'm looking forward to the Grand Prix for many reasons.

Leading Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote isn't afraid of Fillydelphia taking on the boys again.

She was so good a fortnight ago and certainly don't be put off by Larry Cassidy being back aboard the horse.

Heathcote feels it was the blinkers coming off that did the trick last start and Cassidy has won on Fillydelphia before.

Heathcote will decide the filly's campaign after the Grand Prix but there's a chance Fillydelphia may run in both the Oaks and Derby. 

After not having had a lot of luck last Saturday with Heidilicious, Malua Racing will saddle up The Chevron in the Grand Prix.

The three-year-old only is lightly raced but showed trainer John Sadler enough to earn a trip north.

The Chevron's work on Tuesday morning at Doomben was fair on a heavy surface but with a lot of improvement in the track this week should be ideal.

Blinkers will go on The Chevron in the Grand Prix, as Sadler hopes to ride the horse two or three lengths closer than his recent runs in Melbourne.

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THE life of anyone in racing often is extremely tough but spare a thought for James Lyons, who prepares a team of horses in the morning before setting off to his other fulltime job, selling real estate within the Brisbane CBD.

Lyons has his star performer, Drenalin, returning to the races at Doomben on Saturday in the feature sprint race, the Chief De Beers. Drenalin recently indicated he's well primed for a strong first-up performance.

The other major plus for Saturday is Drenalin's first-up record.

Brad Stewart, who has been doing a lot of the hard work preparing Drenalin, will take the ride on Saturday.

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CAULFIELD trainer, Mick Price, will have eyes on Doomben and Caulfield on Saturday.

Echoes of Heaven lines up in the Grand Prix following some strong recent performances and, while barrier 20 normally may be a massive hurdle, Price is planning to ride the horse back and rely on a strong finish from the 600 metre mark.

At Caulfield, About Ready returns in the last race.

Like Echoes of Heaven, About Ready will be ridden off the pace and following a trial at Cranbourne on Monday, Price feels the horse is set to produce first-up.

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ADELAIDE trainer David Jolly makes another trip across the border to Melbourne on Saturday.

Basil Da Man lines up in the race five at Caulfield trying to extend his winning sequence to five.

Jolly told me this week, Basil Da Man has been kept right up to the mark with a strong gallop at Strathalbyn last Saturday and some pace work along Goolwa Beach on Wednesday.

For Jolly, his only concern is the state of the track at Caulfield.

Basil Da Man's four wins have been on good tracks but Jolly says if the surface is dead to slow, the horse has coped with those conditions in trackwork.