Queenslander Rothfire remains a clear-cut Golden Rose favourite but he will have to contend with a wide barrier draw.
A brilliant winner of The Run To The Rose at his Sydney debut, Rothfire came up with gate eight of nine when the final field was declared on Tuesday.
He is an even-money top pick with TAB fixed odds, ahead of promising Hawkes Racing colts North Pacific ($5) and Ole Kirk ($8) with Peltzer ($9) the only other runner at single-figures.
There were no major surprises when the field was declared with two-time Group One winner King’s Legacy and Golden Slipper placegetter Mamaragan among the acceptors.
Chris Waller had indicated emerging star Mo’unga was unlikely to run and he was not in the final numbers with the stable confirming he would instead be aimed at the Caulfield Guineas.
The premier trainer will still be represented in Saturday’s 1400m Rosehill feature by Aquis colts Global Quest and Sauvestre.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Yardstick rounds out the Group One field.
