Brooke Ainsworth following in her late father's footsteps

By Jordan Gerrans

The dual-licenced Brooke Ainsworth continues to be inspired by her late father Ted to this day.

The 30-year-old was moving through her apprenticeship as a young jockey back in 2016 when her father Ted passed away after a health battle.

At the time she was content as a hoop.

But, once Ted was gone, she then was spurred on to pursue a dual-licence in racing so she can train and ride at the same time.

Brooke prepared her maiden winner with the double role on Saturday afternoon at the Ainsworth's local track of Beaudesert.

“Once Dad passed away, I always wanted to get my dual-licence,” Brooke said on Wednesday morning after a busy morning at the Beaudesert trials.

“I learnt a lot from my Dad.

"Dad had quite a few good horses in the early days, 20 or 30 years ago.

“I like being hands on with horses, I would rather do them myself, all the hard work myself.”

Ted prepared more than 100 winners in his time as a trainer which included 13 at a metropolitan level in Brisbane as well as one city winner in Sydney, as well.

Brooke completed her apprenticeship under her father until he passed away. 

He also prepared several horses to top three finishes in black-type events.

Ted had a much bigger team of horses in his early days training but scaled back in later years when he was sick.

As well as her late father, Brooke has also been guided by veteran trainers Harold Norman, John Smerdon and Kenneth Deacon in her new pursuit as a trainer.

She had her first runner in her own name in May of this year and collected her maiden win at her eighth start.

Brooke has ridden one city Saturday winner in her career, which was aboard a Deacon-trained galloper.

“They have all helped a lot with hints, pointers and tips,” she said.

“It is not any more important than winning on someone else’s horse but you are putting in the hours with everything in the background when you are doing them yourself.

“There is a lot more time going into it compared to when you are just riding them for someone else on race day.

“I have always wanted to train.”

The victory on Saturday for Brooke was delivered by maiden galloper Newmarket Miss who got the cash over 1650 metres.

One of her mentors - Deacon - strapped Newmarket Miss for Brooke on Saturday as well as taking her to the races.

It was the five-year-old mare’s third start for Brooke and she scored by a length-and-a-half.

The lightweight jockey did the steering.

“She has come along nicely and she came across in good order from Ray Litton,” Brooke said of Newmarket Miss. 

“She is going well and will run further, I just need to find the right races for her.

“She is not going to be a Saturday horse but I think she will win a few more over more ground.”

It was a winning double for Brooke in the saddle on Saturday as she partnered Gregarious to victory for Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton later in the program.

At 30 years of age and having ridden on race day for a decade, Brooke has plans to eventually transition into training on a full-time basis down the line.

She has her team based on six acres at Gleneagle, which is just outside Beaudesert.

Brooke has six gallopers in work – two that are racing now – with the rest being babies that are working through their education process.

She had a number of unraced youngsters trial at Beaudesert on Wednesday as they build towards eventually making their race day debut's.

“Hopefully if all goes well – I would like to keep my dual-licence – but maybe in five years just keep my trial ticket as a jockey and then go more training if I can,” Ainsworth said.

The Ainsworth-trained Love On Display is set to head up to the Darling Downs on Saturday to contest the Maiden Handicap over 1300 metres at Toowoomba Turf Club under lights.