Rothfire has sailed through his first serious test this campaign with a runaway win in a Doomben barrier trial.
With regular rider Jim Byrne aboard, Rothfire began brilliantly to lead Tuesday’s 840m heat and win by 2-1/2 lengths without being extended in the run to the line.
The gelding recorded a brilliant 50.87 seconds with a final 600m sectional of 33.95 seconds.
It was Rothfire’s first public appearance since his dominant win in the Group One J J Atkins (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 6 which took his record to six wins from seven starts.
Trainer Rob Heathcote plans to give the three-year-old another trial at Doomben in a fortnight before he heads to Sydney for the spring carnival.
The Group Two Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on September 12 has been pencilled in for Rothfire’s return to racing.
He then will proceed to the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) at the same track a fortnight later.
Heathcote hopes Rothfire’s form will be good enough to gain a start in the $15 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 17.
It is an identical path to the one taken last year by Yes Yes Yes, who produced a barnstorming finish to win The Everest in track record time.
Rothfire is $15 to win The Everest with TAB Fixed Odds, which has installed Nature Strip a $3 favourite.
