Talented young Tasmanian harness racing trainer Chris Aylett believes New South Wales reject War Dan Star has a future in Tasmania following the two-year-old's impressive win at his second start in the state in Devonport on Friday night.
War Dan Star came from the Amanda Turnbull stable where he had four unplaced starts which led to him being sacked.
But his owners, Victorian Danny Zavitsanos and Tasmanian Warren Viney, decided to send the horse to Tasmania.
"Dad (Phillip) trained a few for Warren (Viney) when he first started out in harness racing and he always said he wanted to get me a good horse," Chris Aylett said.
"This bloke is a good honest little horse and I think he'll be better next year."
War Dan Star was backing up after a nose second in Launceston five days earlier when one of the owners backed him at 40-1.
"He looked like winning that race (when he hit the front in the straight) but the leader kicked back," Aylett said.
"We'll go back to Launceston next week for a heat of the Breeders Crown, because he's paid up for that series (In Victoria), then we'll see where we go from there.
"He could go on to the Golden Slipper if he's happy but it would be a big effort for a two-year-old to race that many weeks in a row."
Driver Rohan Hadley had War Dan Star travelling comfortably in the one-out-one-back position before he sent the gelding three-wide to make his challenge about 800m from home.
War Dan Star ($9.12) then sustained a long run to score a comfortable five-metre win over Ideal Karalta and Maybe Jack.
Peter Staples