Rothfire left to carry Heathcote’s hopes
Two-year-old Rothfire will be out to keep an unbeaten record when he resumes at Eagle Farm.
Trainer Robert Heathcote has had his plans for one stable star frustrated and will rely on another at Eagle Farm.
Heathcote had nominated in-form Emerald Kingdom for a No Metropolitan Win race over 1000m.
The nomination was ruled invalid because he won a Class Three race at a Saturday meeting last month.
The Class Three races carry reduced prize money but are still counted as metropolitan races.
It means Heathcote will now have to look for another race for Emerald Kingdom who has won his past four starts.
Heathcote will still have promising Rothfire who will face his biggest test in Saturday’s $125,000 Two-Year-Old Handicap (1000m).
Heathcote had intended the unbeaten Rothfire would resume in two weeks time but the wet weather has forced his hand.
He said with trials and jump-outs cancelled, Rothfire would now have three starts culminating in the $500,000 Two-Year-Old The Jewel at the Gold Coast on March 14.
Rothfire is unbeaten in two race starts and trialled brilliantly at Doomben three weeks ago.
He won his first start by six lengths and then beat top filly Gotta Kiss at Eagle Farm in November.
Heathcote bought Rothfire directly from Chinchilla-based Gleeson Thoroughbreds and the gelding was not eligible for the Magic Millions carnival.
It meant Heathcote was able to give Rothfire a good break and bring him back for The Jewel.
“He needs to run and Saturday’s race is worth $97,000 to the winner with the QTIS bonus,” Heathcote said.
“It is a good field on Saturday and this will be a good test for him.
“Robbie Fradd who has been riding Rothfire rates him very highly and hopefully he will live up to that on Saturday.”
Rothfire is one of several smart horses by Rothesay trained by Heathcote and on his breeding should run at least a strong 1400m.
“I am having a good run with them because my good three-year-old Guntantes is also by Rothesay and he has won at 1600 metres. Rothesay is an underrated sire,” he said.
Heathcote believes Rothfire will be good enough for the winter carnival but is yet to make firm plans.