Veteran Rothfire Carries Top Form Into Stradbroke

Trainer Rob Heathcote will have two chances to capture Queensland's premier handicap when Rothfire (AUS) and Abounding (AUS) line up in the June 13 Stradbroke Handicap (G1) at Eagle Farm Racecourse. A winner of the Doomben Ten Thousand (G1) last month, Rothfire heads into the feature in strong form and Heathcote is hoping the veteran sprinter can go one better than his runner-up finish behind Think About It (AUS) in the race three years ago. The rising 9-year-old worked impressively June 9 at Eagle Farm and will again be partnered by Brad Rawiller after drawing barrier 13. "He's an old marvel," Heathcote said. "To have won a group 1 as a 2-year-old and again as an 8-year-old is an incredible achievement." Heathcote knows how difficult the Stradbroke can be to win, having finished second three times previously, twice with Buffering and once with Rothfire. "It's one of the toughest handicap races in Australia," he said. "I've run second in it three times and would love to finally win it." The stable also will be represented by last-start BRC Sprint (G3) winner Abounding, who earned her place in the field with a determined victory at Doomben. Tyler Schiller has been booked to ride the mare, who drew barrier 15. Headley Grange (AUS) remains the AU$5 favorite for the Stradbroke Handicap, ahead of Fangirl (AUS) and Regal Award (AUS) at AU$6.50. Tron Bolt Leads Waller's J.J. Atkins Charge Champion trainer Chris Waller will have a trio of chances in Saturday's J.J. Atkins Stakes (G1) at Eagle Farm, headed by race favorite Tron Bolt (AUS). The Toronado (IRE) colt will be ridden by champion jockey James McDonald, who has chosen the juvenile over stablemates Stormy Marco (AUS) and Glenorchy (AUS). Tron Bolt has won both his starts since a debut third placing in April at Kembla Grange, landing 1,400-meter (about 7 furlong) and 1,300-meter (about 6 1/2 furlong) handicaps at Randwick-Kensington and Rosehill Gardens, respectively, in stylish fashion. "He (Stormy Marco) galloped well Tuesday morning. Andrew Mallyon rode him and said he'll be very, very hard to beat," Waller said. "I told that to James and he said, 'No, I'll still ride Tron Bolt.' "Both horses have worked well. Stormy Marco was very unlucky the other day in the Sires'. We will learn a lot about them. Trouble-free runs and hopefully they'll be right in the finish." Stormy Marco finished eighth in the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (G2) when he was continually squeezed out of narrow gaps and unable to find clear running. "He (Tron Bolt) is going into the race full of confidence, whereas Stormy Marco did run in the Sires' Produce and had no luck," Waller said. "Going into a good race like that, especially with a baby, you like to have them in a bit of form." Tron Bolt is a AU$2.20 favorite for the Atkins with Stormy Marco at AU$11, while Waller's other runner Glenorchy splits the pair at AU$7.50. "He hasn't drawn very well (barrier 13), that's a negative, but outside the top four or five, the field drops away a bit, so I think he'll run well," Waller said of Glenorchy.