Having finished runner-up last year, champion jockey Craig Williams will again head to Rockhampton for the $1 million The Archer (1300m) on Sunday, booked to ride none other than Rothfire for Robert Heathcote.
Both horse and rider are a big pull for the Rockhampton Jockey Club, with the slot race entering its fifth year.
Williams had two rides on the Rockhampton card last year, finishing runner up in The Archer aboard Comrade Rosa for Tony Gollan and said he was looking forward to heading back after riding in Adelaide on Saturday and Hong Kong on Sunday.
“I ran second in the race last year,” Williams said.
“I enjoyed my time up there, it’s a million-dollar race and I ran second so naturally I want to win it now.
Eight-year-old gelding Rothfire is the equal highest rated horse on official ratings, tied with Lindsay Park’s Group One winner Here To Shock who sit one point ahead of last year’s Stradbroke Handicap runner up Yellow Brick.
Williams rode Rothfire in the Stradbroke last year when seventh and said he’s looking forward to reuniting with the ‘Thriller from Chinchilla’.
“He’s going to be one of the best weighted horses in the race,” Williams said.
“He’s the best rated horse in the race. Whether that means he can win is another thing because it’ll be a strong race, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Run under set weights and penalties conditions, The Archer will see Rothfire carry 57.5kg while Here To Shock has 59.5kg courtesy of his win in the Group 1 BCD Sprint (1400m) in New Zealand.
Rothfire is rated a $6 chance on the third line of betting in early markets for The Archer behind Yellow Brick at $4.
