Rothfire set for an additional comeback

Rothfire … Take 3!

Who would have thought.

The exceptional now seven-year-old son of Rothsay is at present being ready for an additional comeback by coach Robert Heathcote after ten months away from race motion.

Arguably no horse has given Heathcote extra of a roller-coaster journey than Rothfire … from successful seven of his first eight begins, all the best way as much as Group 1 success … to struggling a catastrophic damage which profession ending … to discovering his approach again to racing after a yr off following a measured and thoroughly carried out interval of rehabilitation … to nonetheless being adequate to win twice at Group 2 stage … to struggling one other setback which has taken him out of fee for the final ten months.

And but right here Rothfire was, trialling at Doomben on Tuesday and seemingly not lacking a beat.

“The trial was an enormous take a look at. He pulled up good after the trial,” mentioned Heathcote.

“Bailey (Wheeler) rode him effectively. He taken care of him a bit within the run to line. He might have gained the trial (Rothfire completed second) and clearly run quicker time, however he did all he needed to do … so, as soon as once more, I feel we’ll see him again on the races.

“I imply the horse simply continues to defy logic.

“He has been again in for some time. It has been a gradual, regular buildup.

“What I really feel has been an enormous added bonus to assist get him again is that I’ve acquired a treadmill in my secure now … an equine treadmill which you’ll nearly get a horse as much as a gallop on it.

‘We’ve completed an unbelievable quantity of labor getting him match with out a jockey on his again … and, in fact, the treadmill is a uniform floor so the horse is just not placing his hoof in a divot or having to cope with undulations on the observe … so, I really feel the treadmill has been an enormous assist and performed an enormous half in getting him again.

“When he had progressed sufficient I gave him a very good gallop at Doomben a few weeks in the past on the course correct one morning. He truly ran 1000m at just about race velocity, so Tuesday was kinda like an vital second trial … and he’s pulled up completely good.

“His legs are superb.

“I just about knew a few weeks again after I gave him that sound, strong hitout and he got here via it effectively … I mentioned, geez, I feel we’re going to get him again to the races and now he has ticked off one other field with the trial.”

That was sufficient for Heathcote to take the subsequent step and pencil in a proposed racing schedule for Rothfire.

It’s the George Moore, a Group 3 over 1200m on November 30. Rothfire completed second to Zoustyle in final yr’s George Moore Stakes when he carried 5kg greater than the winner and was solely crushed by half-a-length.

Then, all being effectively, it will likely be on to the Lough Neagh (a Listed race over 1300m on December 14) and the Buffering (over 1400m on December 28).

“Successful The Buffering might be an actual spotlight for me, I can let you know,” mentioned Heathcote referring to a race named after a horse he educated who gained twenty instances, together with that incredible worldwide Group 1 success within the Al Quoz Dash in Dubai.

No one is trying an excessive amount of previous these three attainable begins at this stage, however there may be an fascinating little bit of unfinished enterprise that could possibly be mendacity in wait.

Rothfire completed third within the 2022 Stradbroke, then completed second within the 2023 Stradbroke Handicap. Whether or not he can advance his trigger to have a chance to finish that Stradbroke countdown may be a protracted shot … you might even say ‘unlikely’.

However, then once more, ‘unlikely’ is a phrase that has been utilized in the identical sentence as Rothfire many instances earlier than … offering completely no anchor to what he has gone on to attain.

*Present prospects solely. 2nd Racing guess. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Gamble responsibly.