Queensland comeback king Rothfire sets sights on Melbourne Group 1 spring carnival targets
Three of Buffering's seven Group 1 triumphs came in the Moir (2012, 2014 and 2015) and it's remarkable to think that eight-year-old Rothfire will get the chance to walk in the great horse's hoofprints.
Rothfire has not only survived but thrived through several major injury setbacks in his 35-start career and Heathcote shudders to think how good his Group 1 winner could have been, had he not been to hell and back on several occasions.
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The miracle horse was back to near his best during the Queensland winter carnival when he ran one of the races of his life to only narrowly go down to Sunshine In Paris in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000.
But then a foot infection flared and despite winning a race against time to take his place in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, Rothfire finished seventh and was beaten just over three lengths by new star War Machine on a firm track he didn't enjoy.
What a FINISH! ��
SUNSHINE IN PARIS edges out ROTHFIRE to land the G1 Doomben 10,000 for @mcacajamez @ANeashamRacing ☀� pic.twitter.com/cYKTO44ITC
— World Pool (@WorldPool) May 17, 2025
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Heathcote, however, saw enough in his Doomben 10,000 run to unleash him for another crack at the Melbourne spring.
'His run in the Doomben 10,000 has shown that he is up to it,' Heathcote said.
'It will be a pleasure for me to get the opportunity to take the old boy back to Melbourne again.
'The Moir will be his first race and then we will go to the Group 1 Manikato Stakes.
'If I can keep him sound, healthy and happy he will always be competitive around the Valley, he loves it.'
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Heathcote insists that if Rothfire had enjoyed a trouble free Stradbroke preparation and had a nice run in the race, he would have given Queensland's most prestigious race a mighty shake.
Rothfire had been locked in for a slot in the 2020 edition of The Everest until injury ruled him out of the $20m sprint.
An Everest would be too tall a mountain to climb in the twilight years of Rothfire's career, but Heathcote is eyeing off a rich consolation race on the same day at Randwick.
'I'm hoping after his Melbourne runs we can head to Sydney for the ($2m) Sydney Stakes on Everest day.
'I do think that he could have given the Straddy a shake if things went well, but the track was too firm for him that day and he had an interrupted preparation.
'But to his credit he still ran seventh and he was there when the cards were on table.
'He's got the heart of a lion and he's tough.
Stablemate Abounding, last seen finishing runner-up behind Tashi in the Group 1 Tatt's Tiara at Eagle Farm in June, will join Rothfire in Melbourne.
Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington.
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