Emotional Return for Rothfire

Mark Smith - Saturday September 3

An emotional moment for connections of Rothfire, who returned to the winner's circle for the first time in two years in Saturday's Group II Mitty's McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.

Ridden by Damian Lane for Robert Heathcote, Rothfire overpowered fellow Queenslander Zoustyle (Zoustar) by three-quarter of a length, with the favourite Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) a further one and a quarter length back in third.

Rothfire is a star (image Grant Courtney)

 Arguably the most exciting three-year-old in the land, Rothfire won seven of his first eight starts culminating with his win in the Group II Run To The Rose. The trailing pack included  Ole Kirk, North Pacific, Peltzer, Farnam, and King's Legacy, all now standing at leading stud farms.  

At his next start, Rothfire pulled up with an injury when fourth to Ole Kirk in the Group 1 Golden Rose, and it has been a long road back for the 5yo gelded son of Rothesay.

"Gee, I love this race track. I've had some good times here," Heathcote enthused.

"Back in 2016, we farewelled the great Buffering, and I've come back today with a horse that I thought might have been as good, but then he suffered a bad injury.

"That's his first win back since he suffered that injury, and many of the owners are here today, and I'm one very, very proud trainer.

"I said it would be a miracle if he ever got back to the races - he did - it would be a miracle if he could be competitive at this level, and it's a miracle he's come back and won.

"I was happy with him because this winter carnival at home, I could train him properly.

Advertisement

"I've been walking on eggshells since the injury. He was ever so brave in his run in the Stradbroke (behind Alligator Blood), a Group 1 over 1400m.

"After three weeks off, he's returned, kept that residual fitness, and I haven't had to do much with him.

"I'd like to win another Moir and another Manikato. I love coming back here."

Rothfire advances his record to eight wins, one second, and a third from 16 starts with earnings of $1,319,875.

Bred by Wally and Jill Gleeson's Gleeson Thoroughbreds, Rothfire couldn't make a yearling sale, so he was offered to trainer Robert Heathcote for $10,000 and what an investment he has been.

Great to have him back (image Grant Courtney)

He is the best of three winners from five to race out of the unraced Hussonet (USA) mare Huss On Fire, who was pensioned in 2018.

Rothfire changed the fortunes of his sire Rothesay who covered just 28 mares in 2017 and 2018 before covering a career-high 177 mares at Lyndhurst Stud in 2020. The son of Fastnet Rock stands for a fee of $4,950 this season. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Mitty's McEwen Stakes Gr2 1000m

Moonee Valley Track: Soft(6) Time: 0:58.90
1
Rothfire
- 5g Rothesay (AUS) x Huss On Fire (NZ) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Damian Lane 58.5
2
0.8
Zoustyle
- 7g Zoustar (AUS) x Fashion (GER) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: D Oliver 58.5
Zoustar
3
2.1
Coolangatta
- 3f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Piping Hot (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jamie Kah 50
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $800,000
Seller: Milburn Creek, Wildes Meadow, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Highclere Australia
4
2.2
The Inferno
- 6g Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) x Spina Rosa (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C I Brown Rdr: Jye McNeil 58.5
5
3.2
Semillion
- 3c Shalaa (IRE) x Sistonic (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Damien Thornton 52
6
6.7
In The Congo
- 4h Snitzel (AUS) x Via Africa (SAF) (Var (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: M Zahra 58.5
7
10.7
Away Game
- 5m Snitzel (AUS) x Elusive Wonder (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Craig Williams 56.5
More Reading...
Queensland Flyer Rothfire Much the Best in Run For The Rose
He came, he saw, he conquered, Rothfire, the $10,000 sales reject from Queensland, looked an inspired choice for the Everest after he blew away a well-performed field of bluebloods in Saturday’s Group II Run To The Rose at Rosehill.
Dual Group Winner Too Darn Good At Flemington
A dual group winner during the Spring of her 3yo season, talented mare Too Darn Discreet showed an electric turn of foot, charging home over the top of them to win the Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Kosciuszko calling Rosehill winner Elson Boy
Dubbo-trained Elson Boy was back in the winner’s circle after a 412-day absence when leading throughout to land the Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill in the hands of apprentice William Stanley.
Sales Reject Rothfire Breaks the $2million Barrier
Local hero Rothfire needed to call on every ounce of his courage to capture Saturday’s Group II Channel 7 Victory Stakes at (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Crossbow Takes Aim At Flemington To Score
With quality efforts behind handy horses in his first three starts, trainer Chris Waller crossed the border to Victoria with instant success for the Star Thoroughbreds raced Crossbow, with the well-marked son of Better Than Ready breaking through for an impressive win.
Unique Filly a History Maker for Godolphin and Waller
The re-distribution of the Godolphin owned Australian racehorses has been a hot topic in recent weeks as they departed the care of James Cummings to join a wide spread of different trainers and one of those was Chris Waller, whose first runner for the blue army was a winner at Rosehill on Saturday.
Sliding Doors Moment Delivers Feel Good Winner at Rosehill
Two fillies were born at Yulong in 2021 sired by Alabama Express from imported North American daughters of Street Cry, one of them is triple Group I winner Treasurethe Moment and the other is the feel good winner of the day at Rosehill on Saturday.
Whoosh!! Rothfire in a Class of His Own in JJ Atkins
Outstanding two-year-old Rothesay gelding Rothfire, who was deemed unworthy of a place in a yearling sale,  left a class field struggling in his wake with a record-breaking performance in Saturday’s Group 1 JJ Atkins Plate (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
Winning Hat-Trick for Progressive Pierro
Richard and Will Freedman probably have more talented horses in the stable than Pierro gelding Cold Brew, but few have the consistency of this four year-old who landed a winning hat-trick at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Novelist Returns to Form
The very first stakes-winner for his sire Written By when winning the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes in December 2022, The Novelist made light of the heavy 10 track at Rosehill on Saturday to claim another victory.