SA Trots - Wishing Star has found his home

WELL-TRAVELLED trotter Wishing Star may have finally found his home.

Beginning his career in New Zealand, Wishing Star was purchased by Victorian interests but failed to flatter for two of the state's leading trainers.

Transferred to South Australian horseman Luke O'Neill last month, the son of Wishing Stone was third upon debut before scoring in Gawler yesterday.

Pleased with the squaregaiter's performance, O'Neill is confident Wishing Star can "win his races here".

"He does go alright, but is just not suited to Victoria," O'Neill said. "He lacks high speed, but can grind away all day.

"That's going to be how he is driven...a true stayer!

"I told Kevin (Weidenbach) before the race to drive him tough, don't let the leader get away with slow quarters as he won't have the zip once they quicken up.

"If they run even quarters he has a chance of grinding them down and will win his races here."

Beginning well from his 10-metre handicap, Wishing Star was sent forward to test the leader, Sammy Barbaro, from the 'death seat'.

Forging his way to the front in the shadows of the post, Wishing Star scored by a short half-head from Sammy Barbaro, with Andoverlov seven metres away.

Rating 2:03.4 over 2070 metres, the six-year-old registered his first win since scoring in Cambridge last August.

"It was a good tough run," O'Neill said. "The leader kicked about three or four metres away from him at the top of the home straight, but he just kept plugging away.

"He only just got there in the end, but he got there, which is the important thing."

• PAUL COURTS