Rothfire launches yet another comeback

By Glenn Davis

The comeback is always stronger than the setback.

That’s an old saying trainer Robert Heathcote is facing again with his champion sprinter Rothfire who begins his latest comeback in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.

Heathcote is hopeful Rothfire can repeat stablemate Abounding’s first-up winning feat in the Listed Tattersall’s Classic at Doomben on Wednesday.

Abounding was too classy for her opposition in her first appearance since finishing a close fourth behind subsequent The Everest winner Bella Nipotina in the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm in June.

It was her first win since her Magic Millions Guineas victory in January and confirmed plans to head back to next year’s Magic Millions and possibly the autumn or winter carnivals in Sydney and Brisbane.

Rothfire hasn’t raced for 10 months since finishing fourth to the Matthew Dunn-trained Boom Torque in the Magic Millions QTIS at the Gold Coast in January.

Rothfire was then set the target of running in his third Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap during the winter after finishing third in the 2022 Stradbroke won by Alligator Blood and second to Think About It in last year’s premier sprint.

However, plans for a third Stradbroke attempt went up in smoke when Rothfire badly injured a ligament with Heathcote fearing his Group 1-winning sprinter would never race again.

It wasn’t the same injury which many thought had ended his career as a three-year-old when Rothfire finished fourth in the Group 1 Golden Rose in Sydney four years ago.

“It was in the same leg but the ligament tears were in different places,” Heathcote said.

Fast forward to now and Heathcote believes the “old fella” is back.

Heathcote has attributed much of Rothfire’s recuperation to a treadmill he now uses in his Eagle Farm stables and is looking forward to his George Moore return.

Rothfire is now a seven-year-old but indicated he was ready to fire first-up after barrier trialling at Doomben last week.

“He’s only had one trial and ran second and I feel he may be a little vulnerable first-up,” Heathcote said.

“But, he’ll be competitive as he’s such a unique animal and doesn’t know when to give in.

“He’s done a lot of work on the treadmill to take the weight off his legs.

“It’s been a massive help as he does a lot of work on it without having a rider on his back.”

Heathcote has booked leading rider James Orman to partner Rothfire and fears the Tony Gollan stable as his biggest stumbling block.

“Rothfire doesn’t get in too well at the weights and Tony has a great record in the George Moore and has a number of strong chances in it again,” Heathcote said.

Heathcote, who also saddles Prince Of Boom in the George Moore, has pencilled in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes at Eagle Farm on December 14 as Rothfire’s next assignment ahead of The Buffering at Eagle Farm two weeks later.