Class Victorian harness racing pacer Five Star Anvil sounded a warning that he has lost none of the talent that entitled him to be a serious Inter Dominion contender last season by scoring an emphatic win in the City of Launceston Cup over 2200m at the Luxbet Racing Centre in Launceston last night.
The performance was seen as a warm-up for next Sunday's Group 3 Tasmania Cup in Hobart.
After enjoying the run of the race in the one-out-one-back position the Adam Kelly-trained gelding claimed the lead at the top of the home straight and went on to score comfortably from last year's Tasmania Cup winner Lets Elope with Chopstix Boris a game third after training the leader throughout.
Five Star Anvil was partnered by his regular driver Zac Phillips who has had a long association with the 10-year-old gelding.
The Bettormack led from gate two and driver Todd Rattray ensured a solid tempo but he was the first beaten when the eventual winner arrived to take control turning for home.
Lets Elope ran on well from back in the field and did enough to suggest he will be a chance to make it back-to-back Tasmania Cups next Sunday night.
Listen to what driver Zac Phillips had to say after Five Star Anvil's impressive win in the City of Launceston Cup.
Peter Staples