Unfinished Sydney Business for Rothfire

The history books will show that gun Queensland sprinter Rothfire (Rothesay) arrived in Sydney like a wave but exited like a ripple. What won’t be immediately clear is that a devastating in-running injury cost the Rob Heathcote-trained bullet any chance he had of taking the Gr1 Golden Rose Trophy back to the Sunshine State after he’d scored a fabulous win in the Run to The Rose. Almost a year later, following a lengthy recuperation period for what could easily have been a career-ending injury, the Thrilla from Chinchilla is back doing what he does best – tearing up the racetrack. Following a scintillating 1000m trial win at Doomben on 3 August, the son of Hussonet mare Huss On Fire was given four weeks between jump outs by Heathcote who reproduced him again on Tuesday for a more sedate performance. With the trial win never in doubt, Rothfire cruised home ahead of quality sprinter Jonker (Spirit of Boom) as he builds towards a start on 17 September in Sydney’s The Shorts (1100m). Held together in his trial like the stitching in an expensive leather handbag, if Rothfire stays sound then Nature Strip is likely to find himself with imposing company if he plans to lead The Everest field. Watch the Rothfire story below.