Rothfire Conqueror Keen for Another QTIS Title

One year after downing future Group 1 winner Rothfire (Rothesay-Huss on Fire, by Hussonet) in the GCTC Aquis QTIS Jewel 2YO, smart 3YO filly Kisukano (Bel Esprit-Kiss for Gran, by Show a Heart) has aims to win the 3YO version on Saturday, reports racingqueensland.com.au. "At the time, everyone was talking about Rothfire and we were just going there as a second guess, I suppose you could say," trainer Michael Nolan conceded about taking on the then unbeaten gelding. "We only ever really discussed running second to Rothfire. We were not nervous or had expectations, but we knew the filly was going well and in good shape and [if] something went wrong for the favourite, then we would run good." Rothfire won six of his seven starts at two with the second behind Kisukano being his only defeat at that age. Meanwhile, she won four of her six starts as a 2YO, and then picked up two more wins and a second as a spring 3YO. Her most recent two starts haven't been in nearly the same form, however her last start fourth at Caloundra had some merit as she carried 61kg. "Our aim has always been to win the 3YO Jewel, which is now $300,000 to the winner - that is great money," Nolan said. "The plan was to win first up on Saturday and we obviously didn't, but in saying that we still ran well… We are going to meet a lot of the horses we met at Caloundra six or seven kilograms better, that is going to help us. We need to improve a few lengths fitness wise, we think we can do that. We are going to the 3YO as we went to the 2YO, we are not expecting to win the race, but we expect to run well." The last horse to win both the 2YO and 3YO Jewel races was The Odyssey (Better Than Ready-Jessica's Hope, by Snitzel) in 2019 and 2020.