Rothfire ‘back in the game’ for third Stradbroke Handicap bid

Hopes are rising that racing warrior Rothfire will win a race against time and line up in Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap after pleasing trainer Rob Heathcote on Monday.

Remarkable racing warrior Rothfire. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

There could be another remarkable twist to the Rothfire story with Rob Heathcote declaring his wonder horse is “back in the game” in a race against time to line up in Saturday’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

Hopes had been low that the “Thriller from Chinchilla” would recover from a foot injury in time to take his place in Queensland’s most prestigious race.

• Lindsay Park's second gun joins vaunted attack on Stradbroke

However, after working the Group 1 winner on Monday morning, Heathcote feels the courageous seven-year-old sprinter is now a decent chance of lining up in Saturday’s $3m Stradbroke.

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“He will of course have to pass the scrutiny of vets, but from what we saw this morning, he will,” Heathcote said.

“Rothfire was excellent this morning.

“He’s done a lot of swimming and he still has to come through his Tuesday morning gallop well, but from what we saw this morning, nothing is beyond this warrior horse.

“He is one tough horse.”

Trainer Robert Heathcote. Picture: Kevin Farmer.

The foot injury to Rothfire, which flared after he turned back the clock for an amazing runner-up finish behind Sunshine In Paris in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000, was only ever minor.

But Heathcote said last week that although the foot infection had broken, he had felt Rothfire remained only a “slim” chance of lining up in his third Stradbroke.

• Zac on rare quest to score consecutive Stradbroke Handicaps

However, there is now a growing sense of optimism.

It is still far from ideal that Rothfire would be racing in a Stradbroke after missing a run in the Kingsford Smith Cup, but Heathcote said it wasn’t a major issue.

“The Doomben 10,000 run was worth a week of fitness work and the swimming he has been doing has kept him up to the mark,” he said.

“His courage will fill in the cracks.”

Too good J-Mac! He lifts Sunshine In Paris to victory in the Doomben 10,000 💪 @[e-mail]/DJaWJwBHJI

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025

Heathcote will not make a decision as to whether he accepts with Rothfire in the Stradbroke until after a Tuesday morning track work session.

Rothfire’s odds in the Stradbroke have blown out since he has been under an injury cloud and he is currently a $34 chance.

Rothfire became a Group 1 champion in 2020 when he won the JJ Atkins in his two-year-old season.

He has won close to $3.5m in prizemoney, despite suffering several major injury setbacks including a sesamoid fracture several years ago which had threatened to end his career.

Originally published as Rothfire ‘back in the game’ for third Stradbroke Handicap bid