Barooga Brett Eyes Unprecedented Group 1 Double

BROOKE and Jamie Ennis will be out to rewrite the record books when they begin their Australian Cup quest at The Meadows this Saturday night, with their star galloper Barooga Brett looking to become the first greyhound to secure the coveted Temlee/Australian Cup double.

Since the inception of the Temlee back in 2003, no greyhound has gone on to complete the Temlee/Australian Cup double, with just six winners of the Group 1 invitational progressing through to the Australian Cup decider.

But whilst an element of history may be conspiring against Team Ennis and their two-time Group 1 winner, Jamie told the Recorder on Thursday they head to The Meadows on Saturday more than happy with their four-strong Australian Cup contingent, enjoying what's been a fantastic start to 2019.

"It's been a great start to the year but that means it can only go one way – but let's hope not," quipped Ennis on Thursday morning.

"It actually doesn't surprise me that much no dog has won the double – if you look at the Temlee on Saturday night I'd say the first five over the line were all good runs – they're all capable of going on and winning the (Australian) Cup, that's the case most years."

Winning 15 of the 35 races they've contested in 2019, boasting the remarkable winning strike-rate of 43%, Ennis was quick to label Barooga Brett the best of their chances in Saturday night's qualifiers, the son of Barcia Bale drawn box three in the fourth Australian Cup heat (race 6).

"He's almost got the perfect draw – there shouldn't be too much pressure early at all," enthused Ennis about his Silver Chief/Temlee hero.

"Degani and Chips And Trains are drawn outside him and both are wide runners, Chips And Trains might be the widest runner in Australia from what I've seen. My bloke should get a lovely run early. He just needs to clear Lagoon Rhett on the inside and that should be it really. He did cross Orson Allen on Saturday so that's pretty good form for this, he's around $2.00 and that looks fair to me."

The fifth event on Saturday night sees Ennis's exciting youngster Southern Ripple continue his upward rise, the former Queenslander set to exit box three in the third of the heats.

"It's another step up but I really like him, he's still learning but the draw looks okay and he's shown he loves The Meadows," explained Ennis.

"When he first came to us I didn't expect him to turn into what he has. He's probably still 3-4 months away from reaching his peak but he has run 29.60 around The Meadows and if he rolls to the top they'll be hard up catching him.

"Poke The Bear is obviously the one to beat from the good draw (two). Miss Splendamiro is the other one but I know from experience how hard it is going into these events when you haven't been racing consistently – as a trainer you do your best but it is difficult when they're first up in this class."

Powerhouse galloper Tritt Tritt, a son of Ennis's 2015 Temlee winner My Bro Fabio, will be eyeing an Australian Cup berth in heat five (race 8) from box two, taking on Melbourne Cup hero My Redeemer from box one, fresh off his fourth in Saturday night's Temlee from box eight.

"I see he's (Tritt Tritt) been backed in early so someone obviously gives him a chance like I do, just the way the boxes have fallen I expect him to go well," said Ennis.

"His chance will be if he can get behind My Redeemer early. There's a heap of speed drawn out wide in this heat and if they cut across My Redeemer and he happens to shift off, Tritt Tritt should get a good run through. If he does, he'll run down whatever is in front with the right breaks.

"Injuries will stop me ever getting him to run a strong 700. We need to be pretty soft on him with his work. He should have won last week and he has finished third in a Maturity Final at The Meadows – at the price he looks a good chance."

The last of the Australian Cup runners for Team Ennis is the talented but sometimes exasperating Belt Up Bubbs, drawn box seven in the sixth Australian Cup heat (race 9).

"He's awfully drawn inside Hasten Slowly (runner-up in last year's Australian Cup)," lamented Ennis.

"It's probably one of the weakest heats and he's certainly got the ability but he just brings himself undone in his races a lot of the time.

"If you watched his trials and then saw he'd won $60,000 you'd wonder what's gone wrong. He should have won a stack more but he's 39 kilos and can be very awkward. Had he drawn eight and Hasten Slowly seven I'd be really confident. He'll need luck, it's hard to be too confident with him."

On top of his four-pronged Australian Cup assault, Ennis also looks to play a strong hand in the first of the Group 1 Fanta Bale Super Stayers heats (725m) with So It Goes, drawn ideally in box one.

"He's really coming out of a grade 5 heat and final series so the worry is a few of these, especially Blue Moon Rising, might be a bit seasoned for him at the moment," added Ennis.

"The draw and early race are bonuses for him as he plays up in the kennels badly. I think he'll look the winner passing the 600m boxes the second time, it's just how he sees out the last part of the race.

"I've worked him to keep the speed in his legs, he had a 600m last start and a hand-slip at Sandown on Saturday. He should look the winner for a long way and will improve from the run."