Rothfire takes King Of The Mountain crown

Posted by RS NewsWire at 9:33pm on January 1st

Trainer Robert Heathcote took a risk sending Rothfire to Toowoomba not just at the horse’s first visit, but also one as a short-priced favourite in the $750,000 King Of The Mountain (1200m) at Toowoomba.

As Group 1 winner, expectations were high for Rothfire ($1.80), but rated by much of the opposition as a ‘weights certainty’, the Queensland pin-up galloper delivered in the second running of the state’s first slot race.

“He’s a little ripper,” Heathcote said.

“He was so cool, calm and collected today, which gave me a lot of confidence.

“At home, (staff member) Mel puts a crown on his box and calls him The King, so it’s fitting he’s been crowned the King Of The Mountain today.”

“It’s a miracle this horse is still racing. This was also his first appearance at this track, which takes a bit of getting used to.”

Jockey Ben Thompson claimed a second King Of The Mountain after steering the Tony and Maddysen Sears-trained Yellow Brick to victory on New Year’s Eve in 2022.

“It helps when you’re riding horses like Yellow Brick and a superstar like Rothfire,” Thompson said.

“That makes my job a lot easier. He’s raced at the highest level, finished second in a Group 1 to Think About It and also second to Imperatriz.

“So that made it pretty daunting for the opposition even though he had to carry 60 kilos against a lot of locally-trained horses.

“Plus, his task was made even harder when we drew the outside gate.”

For the Sears team, Steady Ready ($10) finished third in the inaugural running of the event 12 months ago with the now four-year-old following-up to run second this time by a neck-margin

For Heathcote, he is satisfied to have Rothfire springboarding into a Gold Coast appearance on January 13.

“He’s only narrowly won, but I’ll take any winning margin and he’s done his job now because he gets into the Magic Millions event, which is worth $1 million,” Heathcote added.

More Racing News

Extra distance calling Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot

Lady Of Camelot may have come up short in last Saturday’s $3m Magic Millions Sunlight, but her connections were far from disheartened by the performance. The filly, a former Golden Slipper champion, finished second to Private Harry in the 1100m race, leading her team to believe she could excel over longer...

Yesterday

Bjorn Baker cheering O’ Ole for more Millions magic

There’s a sense of history repeating itself for Bjorn Baker after his filly O’ Ole drew barrier three for Saturday’s Magic Millions 2yo Classic, the same gate his sole winner in the race, Unencumbered drew in 2014, and Baker has followed a similar path this time around. Both Unencumbered and O’ Ole won...

Yesterday

Something about Mary at Mornington

Mary Eliza, a daughter of one of New Zealand’s top staying mares has broken her maiden at Mornington, with the progeny of three-time Group 1 winner Bonneval taking out the 1500m contest by 1.5 lengths. The switch from Caulfield Heath to Mornington didn’t worry the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman trained...

Yesterday

Officials confident in Gold Coast track

The location of Saturday’s Magic Millions race day hinges on a gallop of six horses and leading jockeys, to take place early Thursday morning. A section of the Gold Coast track was discovered to be damaged last week which forced Saturday night’s meeting to be transferred to the Sunshine Coast, but...

Yesterday

Kelly Schweida seeking more Magic Millions success

Kelly Schweida has won a Magic Millions race twice in his expansive training career and will take a competitive team to Saturday’s meeting, headlined by Miss Joelene and Hella Fast. Miss Joelene backs up after taking out the $500,000 The Wave (1800m) at Sunshine Coast on Saturday and will line up in the...

Yesterday

Icarian Dream’s odds drift after outside barrier draw in 2025 Magic Millions Classic

One time Magic Millions 2yo Classic favourite, Icarian Dream has drawn the outside barrier in Saturday’s feature. Ciaron Maher’s quest for a third Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) in five years has just gotten a bit harder after his sole runner Icarian Dream drew barrier 21 of 21 for the $3...

Jan 7th

Fire damages Caulfield stands, treated as suspicious

A fire has broken out in the Norman Robinson stand at Caulfield racecourse on Tuesday morning, with the blaze being treated as suspicious. Fire fighters were called to Caulfield shortly after 6:00am on Tuesday with one stand ablaze, incorporating seating and hospitality areas. No one was injured however Victoria Police confirmed the...

Jan 7th

Life changing win for Doyle in Magic Millions Sunlight

Newcastle-based trainer Nathan Doyle and Welsh jockey Ashley Morgan achieved the most significant moment in their respective careers when Private Harry raced away to win the inaugural running of the $3 million The Sunlight (1100m) at Sunshine Coast. It was four wins in four starts for Private Harry – a son of Harry Angel...

Jan 6th

Apollo Stakes return planned for Ceolwulf

It is just under six weeks until Ceolwulf is scheduled to make his return to the races and trainer Joe Pride says the dual Group One winner is shaping up as a “bigger, stronger horse” heading into the autumn. Ceolwulf announced himself as one of the rising stars of the Australian turf...

Jan 6th

Chrissie likely to sit out Standish Handicap

Ciaron Maher is likely to resist testing Mrs Chrissie at the Flemington 1200 metres for the first time in next Saturday’s Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m), instead setting his sights on a Listed race over a shorter trip on the Australia Day weekend. The speedster will most likely next run on January 25,...

Jan 6th