Wednesday Digest

Versatile Jamie

THE INCREDIBLE story of tri-code trainer Jamie Ennis will continue tonight when his only pacer in work, Mach Ruler, lines up in the opening race at Cranbourne.

A harness lover who grew up three doors down from industry icon Ted Demmler, Ennis first took up a trainer’s license at 19 years of age.

After three years in the industry, 12 months of which was spent in America, Ennis was seduced by the glamour of the gallops, ultimately taking up a role alongside Len Treloar in Singapore.

Success followed but eventually the family business, greyhound training, became his first love and the medium by which he’s reached his greatest training heights.

Recently however, Ennis has returned to harness racing and tonight prepares Mach Ruler, who Harness Racing Victoria form analyst Michael Polster has marked a $3 favourite in the Trios Sports Bar Claiming Pace.

Victorian awards

JUDGES convened at Harness Racing Victoria headquarters yesterday to decide upon winners in this year’s Victorian Horse of the Year awards, which will be held on November 17 at Tabcorp Park.

Legendary form analyst Bill Hutchison and revered racecaller Dan Mielicki were among those present to debate a record 13 categories for the 2011/12 season.

A key criteria change last season which saw only Victorian trained horses eligible for the awards will continue this term.

While recently inaugurated awards such as Aged Pacing Mare of the Year will be joined by Aged Pacer and Trotter of the Year as well as Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year gongs this season.

Among the contenders for Victorian Horse of the Year will be Miracle Mile and Victoria Cup winner Smoken Up, Chariots of Fire Champion Caribbean Blaster and superstar mare Make Mine Cullen.

Tubbs treble

WITH a break in Tabcorp Park trials this week, Bendigo and Ballarat took up the slack, hosting 10 qualifiers between them on Monday evening.

The star attraction at Bendigo was former Victoria Derby winner and open class stalwart Tanabi Bromac who claimed the second trial of the night, pacing his last half in 57.3-seconds.

At Ballarat it was Alan and Amy Tubbs who highlighted proceedings, winning three of the five trials with Bettor Believe It, Barkers Hall and Cut For An Ace.

Swan Hill will make a major step toward their first race meeting later this month when trials are held at the state of the art facility tonight.

The Nyah Cup, to be  held on October 20 at Swan Hill will kick off this year’s Choice Hotels Country Cup season.

Stars align

FRIDAY night’s Glenferrie Farm Canterbury Classic at Addington promises to be the best race in New Zealand so far this season with eight New Zealand Cup contenders engaged.

Australian export Sushi Sushi has drawn one in the 2600m stand start feature after failing last start in the Group 3 Methven Cup.

While NZ Cup favourites Terror To Love and Auckland Reactor have landed barriers eight and seven respectively in the night’s pacing feature.

The other highlight at Addington this weekend will be the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup where dual Inter Dominion champ I Can Doosit will start off a 30m handicap.