Trainer Rob Heathcote has enjoyed some of Queensland racing's greatest moments with champions such as Buffering, but he declared Rothfire's remarkable victory in the Doomben Ten Thousand (G1) May 16 among the finest achievements of his career after the veteran sprinter produced an emotional hometown triumph at Doomben.
Almost six years after his first elite-level success in the JJ Atkins Stakes (G1) as a 2-year-old back in 2020, Rothfire returned to the group 1 winners circle and in doing so, became the oldest horse to win the Doomben Ten Thousand since it was first run in 1933 and the first Australian horse in over two decades to claim group 1 victories at both 2 and 8 years of age.
"To all the Queenslanders out there who had faith in Rothie, this is for you," an emotional Heathcote said in the enclosure after Brad Rawiller returned to scale on the AU$5.76 million earner. "This is the culmination of my career, and it's his crowning glory."
Rothfire was faced with a new generation of headline sprinters, including race favorite Jimmysstar, along with heavily-backed colts Napoleonic and Grafterburners, both viewed as emerging stallion prospects.
The field also featured exciting 3-year-old Beadman, group 1 winner Private Harry, multiple stakes winners Skybird and Uncommon James, as well as last-start stakes winner Spicy Martini (Justify ).
Drawn awkwardly in barrier 15, Brad Rawiller allowed the gelding to settle deep throughout before gradually building momentum approaching the home turn and was perfectly placed to challenge front-runner Zarastro, producing a turn of foot that a horse half his age would have been proud of in the straight.
Rothfire surged clear late from the in-form mare Spicy Martini, with Napoleonic finishing third as the veteran gelding received a group 1 ovation from the Doomben crowd.
"He's been an absolute trooper for Queensland," Heathcote continued. "We've dealt with several severe injuries along the way, but he always comes back.
"This is my first group 1 since Startantes won the Tatt's Tiara in 2022. I was also here on Black Caviar Day, and that was amazing, but for Rothfire to do what he has done today means the world to me."
Rothfire's cult status in Queensland has only strengthened with time. After the gelding captured the 2024 King Of The Mountain at Toowoomba carrying 60 kilos from a wide gate, Heathcote revealed stable staff affectionately placed a crown on his box at home and call him "The King".
"It's a miracle this horse is still racing," Heathcote said at the time.
Rothfire may not have been considered in the betting off the back of his tenth placing at Rockhampton in early May, but Heathcote revealed Rothfire's disappointing effort in The Archer may not have been as poor as it appeared on paper and instead helped to tighten the gelding perfectly for the group 1 feature.
A natural from the outset, Rothfire exploded onto the scene as a juvenile during the 2020 Brisbane Winter Carnival, winning the Champagne Classic (G2) by more than a length over Isotope and then producing a dominant display when winning the J J Atkins by more than 3 lengths.
He then traveled south as a spring 3-year-old and immediately measured up against the best of his generation in Sydney, defeating Ole Kirk in the Run To The Rose (G2) at Rosehill.
Two weeks later, he again clashed with Ole Kirk when fourth in the Golden Rose (G1), the contest in which he broke down so badly it was feared he may never race again. Fellow future stallions North Pacific and King's Legacy filled the placings that day.
Rothfire made several successful raids south, capturing the Ian McEwen Stakes (G2) at Moonee Valley and the Sydney Stakes (G3) at Randwick, adding further riches to a syndicate managed by Heathcote's wife Vicki. He has gone close to further group 1 success previously, finishing second to Sunshine In Paris in last year's Doomben Ten Thousand, in addition to runner-up finishes in the 2023 Stradbroke Handicap (G1) and 2022 Manikato Stakes (G1).
Despite multiple injury setbacks throughout his career, Rothfire has remained a consistent force at the elite level and, remarkably, the story may not yet be over.
"We might even have another crack at the Kingsford Smith," Heathcote said.
