Two bone chips sitting on Robert Heathcote’s office desk are a constant reminder to him of how tough Rothfire is as a racehorse and his resilience to bounce back time-after-time.
Under an Everest warm-up ride by Zac Purton, Rothfire ($13) broke what was fast approaching a two-year winning drought and this victory in the $2 million Sydney Stakes (1200m) saw the eight-year-old back where his trainer believes his form belongs.
Rothfire pushed through the gap to claim the Group 3 event by a short-neck margin over the fast-finishing Iowna Merc ($21) and With Your Blessing ($20) a long-neck away in third.
“It means so much because the journey that this horse has taken us on, I’ve had him in three Everests,” Heathcote said.
“We could have been 35 minutes away from his fourth but I’ll take this consolation.
“He injured himself in the Golden Rose five years ago and it took us 18 months to get him back.
“People ask what is the biggest win in your life and I always say ‘Buff’ (Buffering) winning in Dubai but this goes right up there close with all he’s been through.”
Heathcote lamented a luckless run in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) in Brisbane in May and similarly unlucky outings recently in Melbourne.
Though this win has its credit given to Purton’s ride, it was Nash Rawiller who was an unlikely part of the package delivered.
“I have to thank Nash,” Heathcote said.
“He is the one who said, ‘Zac won’t have a ride and I’ll call him to tell him to ride this horse.
“In the Manikato (last start), the run was a lot better than it looked.”
Hints of Rothfire’s retirement had been rebuked by Heathcote over the past few months.
“He’s defied veterinary critics for so long and here he is winning a $2 million race,” Heathcote added.