Brooke Ennis will take a strong hand into Saturday night’s Group 2 Sportsbet Ballarat Cup, but it’s the rapidly improving Barooga Jim she believes could deliver the kennel another feature race success.

The lightly raced chaser has had just 17 career starts and enters the $40,000-to-the-winner final in red-hot form, winning his past two outings including a dominant heat performance on Monday night.

Barooga Jim has drawn box eight for the 450-metre decider – a draw Ennis believes could play perfectly into his hands.

“I’m really happy to get the wide draw,” Ennis said.

“He has always had the ability, but he’s finally putting it all together now, which is exciting.

“If Galento (box 7) crosses to the fence like he did in the heat, I can see the race really opening up for Barooga Jim.”

Barooga Jim also holds sentimental value for the Ennis kennel. His dam Amron Lass is a sister to the kennel’s former star Amron Boy, giving the emerging talent a strong family connection to one of Ennis’s favourites.

Barooga Jim wins his Sportsbet Ballarat Cup heat from box seven in a time of 25.13 seconds.

Ennis will also be represented by comeback chaser Tribeca, who has returned from an injury-enforced spell in strong fashion with two wins and a second from three starts.

“I’m really happy with his run,” Ennis said.

“Anyone who knows him understands how much he loves box one, but he had a lot of pressure the other night and proved he’s all guts and all heart.”

Tribeca has drawn box four for the final and will have rising talent Off The Chart drawn immediately to his outside.

“It’s going to be hard for Tribeca to go with Off The Chart and Sharapova Star (box 1) early – he doesn’t quite have that same early pace,” Ennis said.

Tribeca wins his Sportsbet Ballarat Cup heat from box one in a time of 25.25 seconds.

Robinson rounds out the Ennis trio and remains one of the more enigmatic runners in the field. While capable of producing powerful finishes, consistency has been his biggest challenge.

“He raced really well in the heat and to get as close as he did on the line to a dog like Off The Chart was great to see,” Ennis said.

“He’ll definitely be better for the run.”

The Group 2 Sportsbet Ballarat Cup will be run on Saturday night at Ballarat.