Trainer Rob Heathcote will take Rothfire into the A$1 million Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm on May 30 after ending a four-year Group 1 drought with a win in the Doomben 10,000 on May 16. Rothfire, an eight-year-old Rothesay gelding, made history as the oldest horse to win the 1,200m Doomben 10,000 race [1, 2].
Rothfire has a notable record at Eagle Farm, having previously won the Group 1 J J Atkins (1,400m) in 2020. Heathcote’s only other Group 1 winner since then has been Startantes, who claimed the Tatt’s Tiara (1,400m) at Eagle Farm in 2022, contributing to Heathcote’s career total of 13 Group 1 wins [1, 2].
The eight-year-old narrowly missed out on major victories before, finishing second in the Doomben 10,000 last year and placing fourth and third in his two previous attempts at the Kingsford Smith Cup in 2022 and 2023, respectively [1, 2]. Rothfire’s market odds for the upcoming Kingsford Smith Cup stand at 14-1, with Jimmysstar favored at 5-2 [1, 2].
Despite battling flu himself, Heathcote remains determined to attend the race. “I got a flu shot the other day and I’ve now got the flu. But it won’t stop me from being at Eagle Farm on Saturday,” he said [1]. Heathcote also described Rothfire as “just a marvel” and noted the horse’s resilience: “He’s been written off so many times in the past and he’s come back. He was written off last year and came back and won the A$2 million Sydney Stakes at Randwick,” he added [2].
Heathcote had originally named another runner, Abounding, for the Kingsford Smith Cup, but that horse will miss the race [1, 2]. Rothfire will seek to add to his achievements on May 30, running over 1,300m for the million-dollar prize at Eagle Farm [1, 2].