Amron Boy, Rejuvenate On Group 1 Brisbane Cup Trail

Harrison-Dawson hero Amron Boy will tackle Friday night's Group 3 Bill Collins Match Race (515m) at Sandown Park before co-trainer Jamie Ennis turns his attention to the lucrative Group 1 Brisbane Cup.

And the dual group 1 winner will have a formidable travelling partner for his Brisbane Cup mission with Ennis also earmarking the $1m showpiece for recent kennel acquisition Rejuvenate.

"We're still a few weeks away but the plan is for both dogs to head towards the Brisbane Cup," Ennis said.  

"Amron Boy will race in Friday night's Match Race and then his next hit-out will be more than likely in the final lot of Brisbane Cup preludes at Albion Park (on June 22).

"He doesn't need to go in a prelude but if he doesn't it's a long time between races. And the preludes are worth $17,000 to the winner. Fantastic money."

Amron Boy is the Harrison-Dawson winner in 2023!

What a champion ? pic.twitter.com/adgZblag19

— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) May 18, 2023

While Amron Boy's Brisbane Cup plan is all but set in stone, Rejuvenate's path towards the race will be decided this weekend.

"He's settled in at home great and will trial this weekend and that'll tell us where we are at," Ennis said.

"I'd like to give him a start at home somewhere before we head to Brisbane. He needs to contest a prelude so if everything goes to plan he'll go around in the final round as well."

Winner at 17 of his 22 starts, Rejuvenate, a track record breaking son of Hooked On Scotch, was last seen when well beaten in a heat of the Geelong Cup last month.

Ennis said a chance phone call from owner-trainer Paul Brown saw the gifted powerhouse make his way to his Lara kennels.

"Paul gave me a call and asked me if I was keen to take him on as his work commitments prevented him from travelling," Ennis said.

"It wasn't a long phone call, he's an outstanding dog. When Paul dropped him off you can see what the dog means to him. Hopefully things go to plan and we can get some results.

"Watching him at home he knows he's pretty good. He's got that presence about him the real good ones have."

Remarkable speed

REJUVENATE was sensational in the first heat of the Shepparton Classic and he will be the one to beat in Saturday night's final.

REJUVENATE was less than two lengths off the Shepparton 450-metre track record set by MR. AUDACIOUS.#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/ZI66bI8erf

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) February 27, 2023

With Ennis planning on setting up base in Queensland for his Brisbane Cup campaign, the group 1 winning conditioner was full of praise for the leaps and bounds greyhound racing has made in the Sunshine state in recent years.

"It's been remarkable," Ennis said of the sport's ascension in Queensland.

"They must get fantastic support because their rise has been unbelievable. And it shows in the quality of dogs they're producing as well. They can match it with anything in the country.

"I'm looking forward to getting up there for a few weeks as well and leaving this cold Melbourne weather behind."