Rains Aplenty to overcome wide draw

Luke Dittman rides talented colt Rains Aplenty for trainer John Zielke at Doomben.

Jockey Luke Dittman’s belief Rains Aplenty is the best two-year-old in John Zielke’s stable will be put to the test at Doomben.

Rains Aplenty will be having his second start in Saturday’s Two-Year-Old Handicap (1100m) in which he has drawn the outside barrier.

He was beaten into third place on debut at the Gold Coast but Dittman was adamant he should have won.

Zielke said Dittman remained convinced Rains Aplenty was the best juvenile in his stable.

It is a big call because Zielke has had two juvenile winners this season, Hopes Eternal and You Know The One who also races on Saturday.

“It is a big call by Luke because he won on Hopes Eternal in the O’Shea Plate and then at Doomben last week,” Zielke said.

“Hopes Eternal came from last and ran around the mid 32 seconds for his last 600 metres.

“But Luke got off and told me he still believed Rains Aplenty was the best two-year-old I have got.”

Zielke also expects a good run from You Know The One who is by Frankel’s three-quarter brother Bullet Train.

“I was stunned he beat Rains Aplenty home at the Gold Coast,” Zielke said.

“But he is good and tough and he will be there again.”

Zielke was able to work the pair on Tuesday despite heavy rain on their home track of Toowoomba.

“The training tracks were closed later in the week but we were able to get the work into them,” he said.

“They are by sires that get wet track horses so hopefully they will handle the going on Saturday.”

Doomben is a noted drying track, and with a clear day on Friday, is expected to improve from heavy to the soft range but there is a chance of showers on race day.