Group Three performer Canheroc has just one Cup to his name, but trainer Chris Wood is keen to double that haul when they head to Te Rapa on Saturday to tackle the Group 3 Waikato Cup (2400m).
The seven-year-old son of El Roca was victorious in the Listed Marton Cup (2200m) in January before running third in the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) later that month, and he added another Cup placing to his name when third in the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton last month.
Wood was pleased with his charge’s run and said he is in good order and in a fresh state heading into Saturday’s contest.
“He came back from Christchurch and had an easy week, and he has been back into his work again,” Wood said. “He has had a few gallops and he has pleased me, he is happy.
“He is going to have fresh legs for Saturday after about a month since he has raced, but I have done plenty of work with him and I am happy with where he is.”
Canheroc’s main aim of the summer is next month’s Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham, and he is hoping Saturday’s run can put him on the right path for the staying feature.
“It (Waikato Cup) doesn’t look super strong on paper, but any race is hard to win in New Zealand now, there aren’t as many horses going offshore anymore now that the stakes money is good,” he said.
“There are a few Open Handicaps coming up in the next few weeks and the horses can’t be everywhere. He will have the run here, another in a couple of weeks just after Christmas at Wellington, and then we will look at the Wellington Cup, everything going right.
“He didn’t have much luck this year, and we are hoping things go better next year.”
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