Father-son enjoying continued success

Central Victorian father-and-son training partnership Barry and Ashley Ainsworth have bounced out of the blocks for season 2022 after enjoying their best-ever season last year.

The duo recently landed a Melton double-their first at Victoria’s main headquarters circuit.

Four-year-old mare Beautiful Sunrise (Great Success-Whatta Tussle (Brioso Hanover) led all the way to easily take out the DNR Logistics Maiden Trot and then talented stablemate Namoscar (Ready Cash FRA-Heavens Above USA (Like A Prayer) got home by the barest of margins in the Hyland’s Racing Colours Trot.

“We’ve had a few doubles at other tracks, but it was great to get the new season underway with two wins down there. And Ashley drove them both, so it was a pretty good night,” Barry said.

“Probably the only downside was that we actually had four starters that night-and the other two didn’t go all that flash.”

The Ainsworths, based at Moyreisk, halfway between St Arnaud and Avoca, landed 30 winners last season along with 67 placings for stakemoney of more than $214,000.

“That was the best we’ve ever done by a long way,” Barry said.

“We’ve actually got a nice team going around with most of them being trotters.”
All of the Ainsworths, headed by Barry and his wife Katrina, are involved in the sport. They have established a 140-acre property with a 1050 metre track.

Bay gelding Night Whisper (Quaker Jet FRA-Parisian Dancer) was the leading light last season for the Ainsworth stable with seven wins and he’s now won $45K.

“He was bred by Yabby Dam Farms and a lot of our horses have come from there through trainer Anton (Golino) and the owner Pat Driscoll.”

Other horses that contributed to the Ainsworth’s standout season included My Honey Dont (five wins), Itsallandover (four), Namoscar and Asharah (three apiece), Jaden Gil and This Quaker (two wins each), and Majestic Achiever (one).

“There’s 14, mostly trotters, in work at the moment and a few youngsters waiting to come in,” Barry said.

“When we shifted over from Western Australia nearly nine years ago, we had mostly pacers, but now we’re enjoying the trotters,” he said.

“I think the key is being patient with them. We spend a lot of time with them, and they appreciate not being pushed.”