The discovery promising two-year-old Hopes Eternal was running “on only two tyres” when stakes placed last start has boosted trainer John Zielke’s confidence for the future.
Hopes Eternal will be having his final run before a trip to Sydney in the $125000 Two-Year- Old Classic (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
At his most recent start Hopes Eternal was second to classy Sydney fully Meryl in the Group Three Bruce McLachlan Stakes at Doomben.
It was that run which reaffirmed Zielke’s belief Hopes Eternal is up to the Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes and Group One Champagne Stakes in the Sydney autumn.
“The run itself was very good as he had to come from tenth out wide on the track,” Zielke said.
“He loomed up to win and then peaked for a few strides before hitting top gear again.”
“After the race we discovered why. He cast a plate completely and partly lost another one.”
“He was running on two wheels having had a flat tyre with one and a partial flat with another. It was a great effort.”
Zielke plans to give Hopes Eternal a short break after Saturday and then head to Sydney for the Pago Pago Stakes, Sires’ Produce and Champagne.
“After that it will be a little break again and back for the same thing here – a 1200 metre lead-up through to Sires’ and J J Atkins,” he said.
“I just wish the Sires’ and Atkins were on the big track at the Sunshine Coast now Eagle Farm is closed but that isn’t going to happen.”
Hopes Eternal should have no problems making the fields for feature races later this year.
He has won two races and $147,000 prize money with a first prize of $80,000 on offer on Saturday.
Zielke will also have Dreams Aplenty in the $100,000 Sunshine Coast Cup on Saturday.
Dreams Aplenty was a strong winner at Ipswich last start over 1350m and Zielke believes the 1400m at the Sunshine Coast suits better.
“He was just outside the course record at Ipswich. On Saturday he has a light weight and can roll along on the pace,” he said.
Zielke is undecided whether Dream Aplenty will also head to Sydney this autumn.
“He has actually been sold a couple of times. The last time it didn’t go through and he has won five races since and I haven’t heard from them again,” he said.
“But he has shown he can handle stakes company so we will see.”
