Twenty seven year old Ethan Ensby continued on his winning way in April with three winners and six placings on northern tracks. This followed hot on the heels of his stunning performance in March when he landed six winners from just ten starters. Ethan had early hopes of becoming a jockey and actually rode regular trackwork for several Casino trainers after leaving school. By early teens his height and weight had cancelled any riding aspirations, but he immediately switched his focus to training.
He’s been gradually building momentum since his training career began in his hometown of Casino seven and a half years ago. He relocated to Ballina in 2018. The young trainer is currently working a team of twenty three horses from a stabling complex close to the Ballina track. His three April wins were all at Grafton. Maximum Vortex won two races in the month while Echo Sunshine scored on April 22nd with Noriyuki Masuda in the saddle. Ethan has a healthy opinion of Maximum Vortex who’s won his only two starts by a combined margin of 7.5 lengths, ridden on both occasions by Cejay Graham. The trainer’s March winners were Fortivaci (2 wins), Shotgun Bobby, Eyes To Eye, Dominique and Mychyna.
Ethan's first metropolitan winner was Partnership at Eagle Farm 26/10/2019. Ethan's on the right. Jockey was Nori Masuda - courtesy Trackside Photography.
Ethan’s short career hasn’t been without low points. He was devastated just over six years ago when his highly promising galloper Vitervo Star broke down hopelessly in a TAB Highway at Rosehill. He was disappointed to lose Torrens just over two years ago after having won five races with the son of Adelaide. Torrens has gone on to win five more races including two at stakes level. Ethan copped both setbacks on the chin and got on with the business of training winners. His impressive strike rate is the result of hard work and attention to detail.
Ethan Ensby is a worthy winner of the Pryde’’s Country Trainer Award for April. Twelve complimentary bags of Pryde’s EasiPerformance will arrive at his Ballina stables in the coming weeks.
Approaching 28 years of age Ethan is emerging as a very serious trainer - courtesy Trackside Photography
(Banner image - Banner Shot - Ethan won five races with Torrens including this one on the Sunny Coast - courtesy Trackside Photography.)
