Trainer Robert Heathcote says it may sound like a common trainer’s line, but he genuinely believes Rothfire is in outstanding shape ahead of Saturday’s $3 million Russel Balding Stakes (1300m) at Randwick.
The evergreen eight-year-old arrives off a strong victory in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes (1200m) on Everest Day, and Heathcote says the gelding has only improved since.
“He looks fantastic. In fact, I know it’s an old cliché and a lot of trainers say it, I think he looks better than what he did two weeks ago,” Heathcote said.
Following that win, Rothfire travelled south, spending time at Lindsay Park’s Euroa base before heading to Flemington to be re-shod by noted farrier John Bunting.
“He had three days running around in a paddock, and then he went further down to Flemington, where John Bunting is a master farrier. He tends to Rothfire’s feet because he doesn’t have the best hooves.”
“Then I just did what I did last time, floated him up on the Thursday night, a little bit of a light exercise this afternoon, a little light exercise Saturday morning, and off to the races.”
The trainer remains deeply proud of Rothfire, who fought back from a major injury sustained as a three-year-old that once threatened to end his career.
“I’m unbelievably proud of him. With what this horse has gone through in his career, the level of injury that he suffered as a three-year-old, to not only compete at this high level, to succeed at this high level is quite extraordinary,” he said.
The race is no easy assignment, with multiple The Everest competitors in the field, including favourite and placegetter Jimmysstar, but Heathcote remains optimistic.
“In Rothfire’s favour, he’s run second in two Stradbroke’s at 1400 metres,” Heathcote said.
“He’ll be up on the speed somewhere. If we can get a little bit of cover and Jason can time it right when the chips are down, he’ll be strong to the line.”
On the same day Rothfire claimed the Sydney Stakes, stablemate Abounding produced her career-best performance to win the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
She now steps to the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), where Heathcote believes her inside draw is critical.
“Drawing barrier one, that will force Jamie (Melham) to stay on the paint, maybe three pairs back, be conservative, it’ll help her get the 1600 metres,” he said.
“It’s a good race but she’s in super form, and at the end of the day, I came down to Melbourne with her not even contemplating a run in the Empire Rose, and here we are on the third line of betting.”
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