THE Ainsworth family are such regular visitors to Swan Hill, it is almost their home track, with the family securing a unique feat on Tuesday night.
The fifth race of the evening – the 2024 Julie Douglas Trainer of the Year Trotters Handicap – became a family affair for the Ainsworths with Barry Ainsworth, along with son Ashley, taking out all three placings.
Boutika, trained by Barry, beat home stablemate Night Whisperer by almost eight metres, with trainer/driver Ashley securing third aboard Singara Ted.
It was an impressive feat by the pair, with Boutika, who is also owned by Barry’s wife Katrina, stepping away beautifully to lead from the 10-meter tape, which became the front line with the lone front marker Querencia scratched.
Eased to allow Night Whisperer to ease off her back when trailing to assume control, the stablemates settled one-two on the markers, with Singara Ted following the pair.
The race was to change complexion racing for the bell when Jack Laugher eased Luvski away from the pegs to race exposed, with stablemate Salski latching on to her back before being taken three wide to race in the open by James Herbertson.
The Gary Donaldson trained pair wouldn’t be a factor, however, with the Kerryn Manning driven Boutika racing away to register a comfortable win over stablemate Night Whisperer in a mile rate of 2:01.6.
Barry Ainsworth’s wasn’t the first training quinella of the evening however, with Aaron Dunn achieving the feat just half an hour earlier when Neatntidy beat home stablemate Ruff Nut.
Driven by stable apprentice Ryan Backhouse, Neatntidy was eased off the gate from outside the front line to settle midfield, before going forward to race outside the leader and favourite Ruff Nut, with Dunn in the sulky.
Taking over shortly after, Neatntidy toyed with his rivals, accounting for Ruff Nut along the sprint lane by three and a half metres, with the Mark Thompson trained, Ellen Tormey driven Dieing Art third in a mile rate of 1:56.8.
Neatntidy would be Dunn’s second win of the night, with 4YO Dee Roe winning the second race on the card earlier in the evening.
After starting quickly from the second row, Dee Roe began a three wide run solo in the last lap and although pushed wide on the final bend, finishing full of running to score by a metre ahead of the Isabel Walsh trained, Ryan Sanderson driven Invitation Only, with Joe Got Rolled a metre behind in third in a mile rate of 1:59.2.
The Kerryn Manning trained and driven Surfe La Mer kicked off proceedings, winning the opening race of the night, with the Noel Walsh trained, Jack Laugher driven Ronzel Micky victorious in the third race of the evening.
The final two races of the night went to the Michael Gadsden trained, Ellen Tormey driven Sorriso De Praia, while Impetuoso saluted for Alfio Grasso and Ryan Sanderson after an enthralling two horse battle down the home straight with Icanmotor.
The next meeting in Swan Hill will be on Sunday, April 27.
