The winner of his first four starts, the Robert Heathcote-trained gelding Rothfire lost his unbeaten tag when second at his most recent start at the Gold Coast, but the 2yo son of Rothesay bounced right back in Saturday’s Group II Champagne Classic at Eagle Farm to hand boom filly Isotope her first defeat.
Sent straight to the front by Jim Byrne, Rothfire made every post a winner to defeat the Deep field filly Isotope by one and a quarter lengths with the Snitzel colt Wild Ruler a short-half-head back in third.
Bred by Wally and Jill Gleeson’s Gleeson Thoroughbreds, Rothfire was a sale company reject so he was offered to trainer Robert Heathcote for $10,000 and what a wonderful investment he has been.
With his first stakes win the gelded son of Rothesay advances his record to 5 wins and a second from 6 starts with earnings of $495,400.
“This is my favourite race because it was my first stakes race with Chenar way back in 2000 and her daughter Funtantes won it in 2009 and now we have won it in 2020,” Heathcote said.
“It’s just good to have him back and I think he beat a couple of good horses so he is right up there.
“I had a few self-doubts, which in hindsight I shouldn’t have had. When Jimmy got to the 300 I thought he has had a breather and he found that kick.
“We go to the 1400 metres of the JJ Atkins now and we will see what he can do.
“I think we will find Jimmy saying he is such a laid back, cool dude, he just relaxes.”
Rothfire is the best of three winners from five to race out of the unraced Hussonet (USA) mare Huss On Fire.
While there may be a shortage of black-type close-up, Huss On Fire’s granddam Verscay (Marscay) is a three-quarter sister to Listed Dark Jewel Classic winner Romare and a half-sister to the very talented Vertingly whose five ins included the Group III Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield.
Huss On Fire has been retired and Rothfire is her final foal.
Rothfire becomes the sixth stakes-winner for Lyndhurst Stud’s Fastnet Rock stallion Rothesay who after having a couple of quiet seasons bounced back in 2019 covering 98 mares at a fee of $4,950.
