Ashton decided to give training a try himself and obtained a licence.
He purchased Winlit's Wish at an Ashburton sale in the late 1980s and he bred from her his first winner, Spot The Dot, who was successful at Gore in October 1996 in the hands of Ali Malcolmson.
Table Tower was a 12-and-a-half-length winner for Ashton and his wife, Chris, at Oamaru in 2000.
Ashton was given Table Tower by Waikouaiti horseman Stuart Allcock.
Ashton began training on a beach at Harington Point.
He was assisted in the early days by fellow Portobello trainer Paul Karaitana.
Ashton now trains the horses on a 660m sand track on the nearby Sunnivue Farm property of Miles Notman.
Ashton and Notman had their first success with Hezbrite, who won a trot at the Wairio meeting in 2003.
Ashton purchased Sunnivue Son at the New Zealand Yearling Sales.
Success with that trotter influenced him to purchase his brother, Sunnivue Ted.
Both trotters were bred by Phillip Iggo and are from the grand trotting mare Jeepers (by Gee Whiz), who won eight races.
Ashton's best performer, Sunnivue Son numbered a Sales Series Trot among his six wins.
The 6yr-old has been sidelined for a year with a closing in of bones in a hock.
Ashton bred Sunnivue Caesar from Table Tower.
The 4yr-old, by Julius Caesar, has recorded three wins and five placings from 36 starts.
He is one of four horses Ashton has in work.
"I prefer the trotters as once you get them in winning form they tend to hold it."
Clark Barron, who has driven Sunnivue Ted in his last three wins, is keen to drive the 4yr-old at Cambridge.
Barron took over from regular driver Reon Tither, who has driven some 30 winners since he moved to Perth in January.
Either Sunnivue Caesar or Sunnivue Impulse will accompany Sunnivue Ted to Cambridge.
Ashton will make a decision after Sunny Impulse races at Forbury Park tomorrow night.
Ashton campaigned Well Let's Win (Britewell-Winlit's Wish) at Alexandra Park in 2003 for a third from two starts on that track as a 2yr-old trotter.
The talented Charlie Wright ran his last 800m in 56.4 the final 400 in 27.7 when he was successful at the Ashburton workouts yesterday.
Charlie Wright beat his John Hay-trained stablemate Onedin Crusader by a neck over the 2400m in 3.09.6.
Charlie Wright has not raced since finishing second to Four Starzzz Flash at Addington six months ago.
The Armbro Operative 5yr-old has raced four times, winning his first two starts.
Charger continued his good form when he won yesterday.
The 2yr-old who qualified impressively at Ashburton last Wednesday, ran the mobile mile yesterday in 2.01.9, the last 800m in 57.7, the final 400m in 26.9.
Van Washing Man, a last-start winner at Addington four weeks ago, won a workout in 3.05.1, the last 800m in 58.6, the final 400m in 27.5.
Oscar, who won a trial at Ashburton last week, was successful yesterday.
The Sundon 7yr-old last raced in November.
The hearing of a charges against Patumahoe trainer Geoff Small has been set down for May 24 and 25 by Harness Racing Victoria Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board.
The Small-trained Zenad returned a positive urine test to aminocaproic acid when he won at Moonee Valley in February last year.
The charges relate to the administration of the drug and presentation of the horse to race with the drug in his system.
