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Dual-purpose jockey Michael ‘Mikey’ Ennis was born in Musselburgh, the son of a former National Hunt jockey, also named Michael. He served an apprenticeship as a carpenter but his ambition was to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Dual-purpose jockey Michael ‘Mikey’ Ennis was born in Musselburgh, the son of a former National Hunt jockey, also named Michael. He served an apprenticeship as a carpenter but his ambition was to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Aged 24, he ventured south and joined trainer David Pipe as an amateur rider. He first came to prominence when winning a valuable amateur riders’ handicap chase at Cheltenham’s 2012 November meeting on Swing Bill. He turned professional soon afterwards and rode the Pipe-trained Big Occasion to victory in the 2013 Midlands Grand National.
Aged 24, he ventured south and joined trainer David Pipe as an amateur rider. He first came to prominence when winning a valuable amateur riders’ handicap chase at Cheltenham’s 2012 November meeting on Swing Bill. He turned professional soon afterwards and rode the Pipe-trained Big Occasion to victory in the 2013 Midlands Grand National.
He then moved to Newmarket, splitting his time riding for John Ferguson’s jumps operation and also working for Godolphin as a work rider and travelling horses to Australia. In 2014 he rode Ferguson’s Purple Bay to win Market Rasen’s valuable Summer Hurdle and Wincanton’s Grade 2 Elite Hurdle.
He then moved to Newmarket, splitting his time riding for John Ferguson’s jumps operation and also working for Godolphin as a work rider and travelling horses to Australia. In 2014 he rode Ferguson’s Purple Bay to win Market Rasen’s valuable Summer Hurdle and Wincanton’s Grade 2 Elite Hurdle.
He came closest to landing a big race victory on the Flat at York in August 2014, finishing second on Top Notch Tonto in the £80,000 Clipper Logistics Handicap, beaten a head by Pat Smullen on the Hugo Palmer-trained Short Squeeze, He also finished third in that year’s Grey Horse Handicap at Newmarket on Light From Mars.
He came closest to landing a big race victory on the Flat at York in August 2014, finishing second on Top Notch Tonto in the £80,000 Clipper Logistics Handicap, beaten a head by Pat Smullen on the Hugo Palmer-trained Short Squeeze, He also finished third in that year’s Grey Horse Handicap at Newmarket on Light From Mars.
Mikey’s last winner on the Flat was for David Pipe on Dalgig in an all-weather claimer at Kempton on November 13, 2014. His last over jumps came courtesy of Ruacara, trained by John Ferguson, in the ITV-televised Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day 2015.
Mikey’s last winner on the Flat was for David Pipe on Dalgig in an all-weather claimer at Kempton on November 13, 2014. His last over jumps came courtesy of Ruacara, trained by John Ferguson, in the ITV-televised Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day 2015.
Following a long spell without a winner, Mikey called time on his career at Southwell on August 23, 2016 after finishing last of six on 80-1 rank outsider Maypole Lass in a mares’ novices’ hurdle.
Following a long spell without a winner, Mikey called time on his career at Southwell on August 23, 2016 after finishing last of six on 80-1 rank outsider Maypole Lass in a mares’ novices’ hurdle.
During his time in Australia he had seen how important the media was to the success and popularity of racing. That sparked his interest and he realised there was a huge amount to learn. Motivated by what he saw, he contacted to the Jockeys Education & Training Scheme (JETS) and put his name in the hat for their annual Media Traineeship course, run in conjunction with Racecourse Media Group, the parent company of Racing TV, and aimed at jockeys and former jockeys.
During his time in Australia he had seen how important the media was to the success and popularity of racing. That sparked his interest and he realised there was a huge amount to learn. Motivated by what he saw, he contacted to the Jockeys Education & Training Scheme (JETS) and put his name in the hat for their annual Media Traineeship course, run in conjunction with Racecourse Media Group, the parent company of Racing TV, and aimed at jockeys and former jockeys.
In October 2018 Mikey was chosen as the successful applicant, enabling him to undertake a six-week comprehensive programme covering all aspects of the media, including presentation, punditry, production, digital, marketing and PR.
In October 2018 Mikey was chosen as the successful applicant, enabling him to undertake a six-week comprehensive programme covering all aspects of the media, including presentation, punditry, production, digital, marketing and PR.
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