Canya All Class prepares for Australian Cup with sprint return
The people’s champion, Canya All Class, trained by Jessica Hopkins, is set to return to the 525-metre distance tonight at The Meadows in Race 7, starting from box 4 with odds at .
This move comes as part of his preparation for the Group 1 Australian Cup, for which he has been nominated, as well as the potential of a Group 1 Temlee entry.
The black dog, whelped on April 24, 2022, by Shima Shine out of Spritley Ebony, has not competed over 525 metres since August 24, when he finished fourth from box 4 with a time of 30.44 seconds.
After a month’s break following a sixth-place finish in the Group 1 Sale Cup on Boxing Day, where he had set a track record during the heats, Canya All Class returned to racing last Thursday in the 595-metre Maidment Memorial at Sandown Park, finishing fourth from box eight.
Sale Cup Heat 4 Race Replay – Canya All Class (36.19)
Trainer Jess Hopkins noted, “He pulled up flat after Sale, so the Queensland trip was cancelled,” trainer Jess Hopkins told GRV.
Regarding the recent run, she added, “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.”
Despite his success in staying events, Canya All Class will bypass the Zoom Top during the Australian Cup Carnival, opting instead for the Australian Cup heats (525 metres) with the Rookie Rebel (600 metres) as a backup plan.
Hopkins explained, “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.”
Canya All Class boasts an impressive career record of 27 starts with 16 wins, 3 second places, and 3 third places, amassing $179,760 in prize money.
His notable achievements include winning the Group 1 Topgun Stayers at The Meadows over 730 metres on November 9, 2024, with a time of 42.72 seconds.
As the Australian Cup Carnival approaches, all eyes will be on Canya All Class to see how he performs in the upcoming races.