Trainer Gabrielle Englebrecht has confirmed that Cannyescent will be given the chance to defend his unbeaten record in the 2015 Up And Coming Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Jockey Kathy O’Hara has the chance to record her first win at Group level since she took out the 2015 Carr Stakes on Slightly Sweet. Photo by: Steve Hart

Cannyescent stamped himself as a horse to follow when he recorded impressive barrier trials win at Warwick Farm on July 10 and Rosehill Gardens on July 21 before he lived up to his trial form with a comfortable win in the Australian Stockyard Company Maiden (1200m) at Goulburn on August 4.

Englebrecht told Racing Ahead that she has been thrilled with the progress that Cannyescent has made in his first preparation and she believes that he is worthy of a chance in a race like the Up And Coming Stakes.

“He is certainly a very nice horse to have in my stable,” Englebrecht said.

“We took him to Goulburn with that intention, to give him as easy a win as he could possibly have but he ran into a stronger field than I anticipated down there.

“Kathy was very confident and her judgement was certainly spot on, he didn’t have any problems.

“He is just one of these very genuine sort of horses, he tries very hard, he enjoys it and he obviously has a lot of natural ability there.

“It was a pretty effortless win and I hope that he can do something similar in the Up And Coming.”

Jockey Kathy O’Hara settled Cannyescent towards the tail of the field in the early stages of the Up And Coming Stakes and he showed an impressive turn-of-foot when he was asked for an extra effort in the straight.

Cannyescent showed that he was capable of coming from last to score a race win, but Englebrecht believes that the son of Canny Lad has a degree of tactical versatility and could be settled closer to the speed in the 2015 Up And Coming Stakes.

“I don’t think that he will be the type of horse that is completely one dimensional,” Englebrecht said.

“I think that he will be balanced up, comfortable and in a rhythm and he will sprint well whenever he is in the race.

“Being only his second start we are still learning about him and getting to know him, but from what I have seen of him and what I can judge on him at this point of his career I think that he should show that acceleration pretty well.”

12 horses were included in the 2015 Up And Coming Stakes nominations and Cannyescent could take on the likes of last start winner Devil Hawk, The Rosebud winner Sebring Sun and J.J. Atkins winner Press Statement.