Ethan Ensby has commenced the 2026/27 season in the best possible fashion, landing a winner on the Casino Cup program on Saturday.
Racing Whiskey Miss, connections were confident of a strong showing in the 1200m Benchmark 50 Handicap.
The five-year-old Pierro mare had resumed over the Grafton carnival, running a good third in a 1215m Class One Handicap on July 5.
Just over a month later, racing on her home track with Ben Looker in the saddle, she was forced to settle midfield after jumping from gate ten.
Looker rode Whiskey Miss an absolute treat in the strung-out field before presenting her on the home straight, and she burst clear for a comfortable 2.78-length win.
With Ensby back at Casino training full time, the victory signalled the stable’s first success since Mahuika Maroi won at Grafton in November.
Ethan, Jade and the team have been working hard in recent months, and a result on their home track was the perfect tonic heading into the new season.
The stable also went close to landing a double at Casino, with Rainbow Lass (Violet Soulsby) running out of her skin in the second of the 1200m Benchmark 50 Handicaps, finishing a strong second.
The five-year-old Pariah mare typically takes a couple of runs to find her best each preparation and will be ready and raring after a gutsy second-up effort on her home track.
Ensby and connections were unlucky not to land another winner at Ballina on Tuesday, with both Mahuika Maroi and Vendemmia finishing in the money for Ben Looker.
Mahuika Maroi went down in a heartbreaking head-bobbing finish in the 1900m Class One Plate.
Vendemmia was doing his best work late, finishing third, beaten 1.14 lengths in the 1250m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
The Casino stable has multiple runners over the coming days.
Stable stalwart Maximum Vortex will be second-up with Jasper Franklin in the saddle when he takes on the 1200m Benchmark 78 Handicap at Doomben on Saturday.
The seven-year-old Kurofune gelding resumed at Doomben last month and has since trialled nicely, winning over 1000m at Casino on August 8.
The stable then heads to Grafton on Tuesday, where debutant Harmonious Stride makes his first race appearance in the 1205m Maiden Plate.
The Ole Kirk x Music Bay gelding has impressed to date and was also a trial winner over 1000m at Casino on August 8.
Ben Looker has been booked for the ride and connections have drawn ideally with gate one.
