It’s been three days since Rothfire’s scintillating trail on Tuesday morning and trainer Robert Heathcote could not be more thrilled with the progress of the star performer following his long road to recovery after the career threatening injury he suffered back in the Golden Rose on September 26 last year.
Rothfire went straight out to the paddock at Washpool Lodge followed his eye-catching trial performance on Tuesday and he is scheduled to return to the Heathcote stables at Eagle Farm on Monday.
“He was good. He was very good (on Tuesday),” said Heathcote. “I knew he’d done well and I did say to Ben Thompson (who rode Rothfire in the trial) that I wanted a really solid trial. I wanted to show people this horse is back.
‘My lad not only trialled well. He ran great time and he pulled up fantastic,” added Heathcote.
“He’s out at Washpool now just really getting a little sun on his back. The reason I wanted him to have a little break was just to help get his confidence up. His gone out there and run super time, now let him have some downtime to relax.”
Because of the seriousness of Rothfire’s untimely injury in the Golden Rose, the Group 1 winner, who was a live chance for the then upcoming $14 million The Everest at the time, missed out on that big race date and an open question now remains as to whether he might again become a contender for the rich The Everest contest this time around.
“Look, I’m still a realist,” said Heathcote. “We’ve got a long way to go.
“It was a barrier trial. He was impressive but it was just a barrier trial but, having said that, I have been told that he has been mentioned in conversation by some of The Everest slot holders who have not selected a horse yet.”
As Heathcote says, Rothfire still has some way to go to get there.
What a story would it be if he does!
Truth is, it is already a great story to have him back because when Rothfire left the track after the Golden Rose nobody knew if we would ever see him in action again.
That is a sobering memory which has now given way to a much more positive outlook.
At this stage nobody could ask for more.
*Rothfire, a Group 1 winner who has won seven of his nine trace starts to date and banked $914 250 in prize-money, shortened from $21 into $13 in the Neds betting market on the back of the trial performance.
