Canya Mayhem will line up as Sportsbet’s early favourite in Thursday night’s Group 2 Sportsbet Cranbourne Cup at Sandown Park and he’s earned every bit of that respect.

The promising son of Bernardo and Bali Sunset has drawn box one for the first time in his career.

Despite qualifying by finishing second behind fastest heat winner Colac Kid, the market quickly backed him into favouritism.

“It was a bit surprising to see him come up favourite,” trainer Jess Hopkins said.

“He’s never had box one or two before. But he’s in form and at a track he loves.”

Canya Mayhem’s record at Sandown backs that up. He hasn’t missed a placing in his four starts at the venue, including consecutive victories in 29.43 seconds over Paw Lou Lou and 29.37 seconds over Vincent Bale before launching his Cranbourne Cup campaign.

When asked just how close the youngster might be to breaking the elusive 29-second barrier, Hopkins was measured but optimistic.

“He’s still untapped,” she said.

Last month, Hopkins sent Canya Mayhem to Petar Jovanovic in South Australia for the SA Derby, where he finished runner-up behind fellow Victorian Zelda Covilha.

“I said to Petar, this dog is nowhere near right and is very immature,” she said.

“What he did over there off a very limited preparation was very good. We weren’t expecting him to be in a race like this at this stage.”

Now back home, Canya Mayhem is giving every indication that the best is still to come.

“He’s in form and at a track he loves,” Hopkins said. “We’ll see where the next six to 12 months take us.”

The Group 2 Sportsbet Cranbourne Cup (515m) will be run as Race 8 at Sandown Park on Thursday night.

Jess Hopkins joined James Van de Maat for the Cranbourne Cup Green Light On Podcast.