Group 1 Topgun Stayers winner Canya All Class has options of plenty heading into the Australian Cup Carnival next weekend.
The Jess Hopkins trained chaser had his first start back last Thursday night in the 595 metre Maidment Memorial at Sandown Park, following a month spell after he finished sixth in the Group 1 Sale Cup on Boxing Day.
Canya All Class broke the track record when qualifying for the Sale Cup and was rightly so favourite in the Cup after drawing box one.
“He pulled up flat after Sale so the Queensland trip was cancelled,” trainer Jess Hopkins said.
“He had a little break until he told us he was ready to go again.”
Canya All Class finished fourth in the Maidment Memorial at Sandown Park on return.
Canya All Class in the Maidment Memorial at Sandown Park where he finished fourth from box eight.
“The run on face value was plain, but he was always up against it from box eight at Sandown and with a couple of dogs on his inside wanting to get off the track.”
“Then you have a dog like Stomping running time out front, he was a long way off the lead after they’d gone 50 metres so we weren’t too worried about the effort.”
Canya All Class will bypass the staying events during the Australian Cup Carnival despite his success on the track, opting for the Australian Cup heats (525 metres) and the Rookie Rebel (600 metres) as a backup plan.
“The Rookie Rebel is there; he was nominated for a 600 but being a grade 3 was always a slim chance they’d have one so the backup was 500 as he just needs racing now.”
And that 500 metre race is race 7 tomorrow night at The Meadows. Canya All Class will jump from box four.
“He is nominated for the Australian Cup but the Rookie Rebel isn’t a bad backup.”
“He will step back up to 700 eventually but doing it now would cook him and his health is all that matters.”
The Group 1 Temlee (525 metres) and Group 1 Zoom Top invitational fields will be announced on Monday afternoon, with the Australian Cup heats making up the majority off the card next Saturday night to kick of the 2025 Australian Cup Carnival.
Check out the nominations for the Temlee, Australian Cup and Zoom Top.
