Sales Reject Rothfire Breaks the $2million Barrier

Mark Smith - Saturday April 29

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.

Rothfire takes his earnings to over $2million (image Michael McInally/Racing Queensland)

Ridden by Nash Rawiller for Robert Heathcote, the 5yo son of Rothesay defeated the fast-finishing King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) by a half-neck with Prince Of Boom (Spirit of Boom) a long head back in third.

With his fifth stakes victory, Rothfire advances his record to nine three and a third from 22 starts with earnings of $2,012,375.

Advertisement

“How great it is to have this horse back and winning the way he did,” stable representative Leah Kilner enthused.

They went quickly in front, but (stablemate) Prince Of Boom dug deep, and both are brilliant horses.

“Big credit to Mel Sharpe; she does a lot of work with Rothfire. Mel knows him inside and out, and congratulations to the whole team, especially Mel.

Nash Rawiller was having his ride on Rothfire, who was making his first appearance since finishing a close-up sixth in the Group 1 Winterbottom stakes at Ascot in December.

“He travelled beautifully and felt great,” Rawiller said.

 “It’s good to be on him on a day like this when he’s been able to produce somewhere near his best and certainly right up there with his fight to win.”

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.

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.

Lyndhurst Stud’s Rothesay will have a legion of fans this year at a value fee of $4,950. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Channel 7 Victory Stakes Gr2 1200m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(4) Time: 1:10.32
1
Rothfire
- 5g Rothesay (AUS) x Huss On Fire (NZ) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: N Rawiller 58.5
2
0.2
King Of Sparta
- 4g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Octavia (AUS) (Holy Roman Emperor (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: C Schofield 58.5
I Am Invincible
3
0.4
Prince Of Boom
- 4g Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Dazzling Display (AUS) (Red Dazzler (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: James Orman 58.5
Spirit Of Boom
4
0.5
Paulele
- 4h Dawn Approach (IRE) x Chatoyant (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Melham 58.5
5
1.4
Private Eye
- 5g Al Maher (AUS) x Confidential Queen (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: B Avdulla 58.5
6
1.8
A Case Of You
- 5h Hot Streak (IRE) x Karjera (IRE) (Key Of Luck (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Ben Thompson 58.5
7
2.5
Baller
- 7g High Chaparral (IRE) x Fuwa (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Ryan Maloney 58.5
8
3.4
Holyfield
- 5g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Hurtle Myrtle (AUS) (Dane Shadow (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Brodie Loy 58.5
9
4.5
Dragon Leap
- 6g Pierro (AUS) x Pontiana (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: Damien Thornton 58.5
More Reading...
Sales Reject Rothfire Heads to the JJ Atkins with Half a Million in the Bank
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.
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.
Aussie Bred Trifecta in G3 Sha Tin Vase
Toronado (IRE) gelding Helios Express led home a tricta for Aussie bred sprinters in the Group III Sha Tin Vase (1200m) on Saturday defeating Invincible Sage (Thronum) and Patch of Theta (Zoustar).
Familiar Faces Win $100,000 Jumps Features at Sandown
Jumps racing took centre stage at Sandown on Sunday with some familiar colours and faces winning both the $100,000 Australian Steeplechase (3900m) and the $100,000 Australian Hurdle (3900m).
Lightly Raced Stayer Wins Sandown Cup
The $175,000 Listed MRC Sandown Cup (3200m) on Sunday featured some battle hardened  old stayers, but it was the young kind on the block that got the prize with four year-old Tavistock gelding Diwali scoring his first stakes win.
French Derby Winner for Wootton Bassett
The versatility of Wootton Bassett (GB) was on show overnight in France where the Coolmore shuttler had first and third in the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) at Chantilly with Camille Pissarro claiming victory for Coolmore.
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.
Cool Aza Beel Strikes Again
Proven Te Akau Racing filly Cool Aza Rene put her quality on display when prevailing in a competitive Nellies Restaurant and Bar 2YO (820m) at Wingatui on Sunday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 1
Here is the full list of 51 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
The Secret is Out!
He has big shoes to fill as a half-brother to a $12million earner, but there is no secret about his ability!