Trainer John Zielke believes lightning can strike twice in quick succession at Eagle Farm

AFTER 22 months, what are the odds of a horse winning the first race on the new Eagle Farm track for the same owner and trainer as the last winner on the old track?

Nathan Exelby

less than 2 min read

June 10, 2016 - 6:00PM

You Did What wins the last race at Eagle Farm for almost two years. Picture: Mark Cranitch

AFTER 22 months, two false starts and a reshuffled program, what are the odds of a horse winning the first race on the new Eagle Farm track for the same owner and trainer as the last winner on the old track?

John Zielke thinks it is a distinct possibility when he saddles Evan Hartley’s filly Royal Tithe in the Lancaster Stakes on Saturday.

Zielke and Hartley had You Did What, who won the last race at Eagle Farm on August 20, 2014.

Zielke found it comical when he had a conversation with Hartley soon after that day.

“Evan called me and said he wanted me to do him a favour,” Zielke said.

“He told me he wanted me to set a horse to win the first race on the new track.

“I told him that was a bit of an impossible task given you don’t know how they are going to program the races that day.

“But eerily enough, here we are with a filly I think is a great chance of doing it.

Winning exit: John Zielke congratulates Luke Tarrant after You Did What’s win 22 months ago. Picture: Mark Cranitch

“Wouldn’t it be nice? To have the piece of history where you are the last winner on the old track and then have fate deem you to be the first winner on the new track as well. It would be terrific.’’

Zielke rates Royal Tithe as his best hope on Saturday, dropping in class from what he described as a luckless run in the Sires when she raced wide and pulled a shoe early in the race.

Zielke also expects Dreams Aplenty to race well in the J.J. Atkins, believing the barrier may not be a hindrance by Race 7. “He must be an invisible horse,’’ he said.