Last year’s runner-up finish prompts champion rider Craig Williams to journey back to Rockhampton for the $1 million The Archer (1300m) on Sunday, engaged by Robert Heathcote to partner Rothfire.

Such a notable horse and jockey draw strong interest for the Rockhampton Jockey Club in the slot race’s fifth installment.

Williams took two rides at last year’s Rockhampton fixture, landing second aboard Tony Gollan’s Comrade Rosa in The Archer, and indicated his delight at returning after Saturday’s Adelaide ride and Sunday’s in Hong Kong.

“I ran second in the race last year,” Williams said.

“I enjoyed my time up there, it’s a million-dollar race and I ran second so naturally I want to win it now.

Rothfire, the eight-year-old gelding, ties for the peak official rating with Group One winner Here To Shock from Lindsay Park, surpassing Yellow Brick—last year’s Stradbroke Handicap runner-up—by one point.

In the Stradbroke last year, Williams rode Rothfire home seventh and is enthusiastic about linking back with the ‘Thriller from Chinchilla’.

“He’s going to be one of the best weighted horses in the race,” Williams said.

“He’s the best rated horse in the race. Whether that means he can win is another thing because it’ll be a strong race, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

The Archer operates on set weights and penalties, with Rothfire allocated 57.5kg and Here To Shock 59.5kg for his Group 1 BCD Sprint (1400m) win in New Zealand.

Current early markets have Rothfire at $6 in the third betting tier for The Archer, behind $4 Yellow Brick.

Head to trusted racing odds providers for the top betting markets for the race.