24 January 2020 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Spreyton trainer Chris “Slim” Aylett will be hoping five-year-old gelding War Dan Star can put an end to several hard-luck stories when he lines up in the Elders Insurance Launceston Pace tonight at the combined harness and greyhound race meeting in Launceston.
War Dan Star hasn’t won since 30 December 2018 when he led all the way to win by 14 metres at Carrick Park.
The gelded son of Western Terror has been placed in five of his 11 starts this season including being defeated a head in a heat of the North West Plate in Burnie on 20 December before being defeated a half-head in the $12,000 final in Devonport on Boxing Night three starts ago.
“I have been happy with the way he has been finishing off his races his last four starts,” said trainer Chris Aylett ahead of tonight’s race.
“We had a couple of good draws in a couple of standing start races but it is a nice change to get an inside draw in a mobile start race that’s for sure,” said Aylett about the pacer that has drawn inside barrier five in a mobile start race on two occasions in his last 15 mobile start races.
War Dan Star arrived in the Aylett stable as a two-year-old who had been placed in one of his four starts and is part-owned by a close family friend of the Aylett’s, Warren Viney.
“Warren has been a close friend of the family for a long time, he pretty much grew up next to Mum,” explained Aylett who juggles training around running his excavations business.
Aylett was keen to point out the pacers best form is when he is able to lead.
“He has led in two of his four wins,” he said.
“When he last won at Carrick, he went super so he can do it that way if driver Gareth (Rattray) desires,” added the trainer.
“I don’t tell Gareth what to do that’s for sure,” said the Spreyton based trainer.
War Dan Star opened the $3.20 favourite this morning on the Tasracing Offical Price over Ima Birubi Boy at $4.40 with last start winner Iden Forest on the third line of betting at $5.00.
The first of 15 races on the dual code meeting commences at 16:07 with the first harness event scheduled to jump at 17:48.
Race one of the greyhound card will be on Sky Racing 1 with all remaining races on Sky Racing 2 like always all races will be shown on TasracingTV’s Live Stream.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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