The road to the Sportsbet Melbourne Cup begins at Sandown Park on Thursday night, with rising star Canya Talk Now looking to extend his winning streak to six.

Trainer Anthony Azzopardi has welcomed talk of a potential Phoenix berth for the exciting son of Tommy Shelby and Modern Talking, who has won five consecutive races, including the Group 3 South Australian Derby.

“He is a very, very good dog,” Azzopardi said.

“He is starting to learn how to do it all, but the dog is ready for whatever we throw at him – a Melbourne Cup, a Phoenix, it’s right up his alley.”

Canya Talk Now featured in the opening The Phoenix Flight Path podcast on Monday, earning a spot in the week one Power Rankings of both James Van de Maat and Corey Smith.

The next episode of The Phoenix Flight path will at Midday on Tuesday – live you Youtube, The Meadows Facebook Page and the Watchdog App. 

“That’s part of the plan,” Azzopardi said.

“He is smart enough and good enough.”

First up is Thursday night’s opening Sportsbet Melbourne Cup Prelude, where Canya Talk Now will jump from box eight in Race 5.

“He has come up with a horrible draw at Sandown, but he is good enough,” Azzopardi said.

“From here we will just keep ticking over towards the Melbourne Cup.”

The talented sprinter has also received an invitation to nominate for the Group 1 Topgun at The Meadows on November 7.

“I think a bit of luck will need to be on his side if he was to get a run, but he will be ready if he gets a rug.”

Azzopardi will also unleash exciting staying prospect House Of Sins, who is chasing a remarkable seventh consecutive victory in Race 3.

House Of Sins wins the Jarrod Larkin Spring Cup Final at Bendigo last start from box five in a time of 37.68 seconds over the 660m.

“He is ticking all the boxes and has a will to win like no other – that has been him since day one,” Azzopardi said.

“You can’t train that into a dog.”

House Of Sins will jump from box six before turning his attention to the Group 1 Hume Cup heats over 600 metres at The Meadows on November 2.

“I’m not going to go 700 just yet. We will see him through the Hume Cup series and then go to Sale before stepping up further,” Azzopardi said.
His litter brother Wizard Watson rounds out Azzopardi’s Thursday night team at Sandown, jumping from box four in Race 12.