Ironhorse Rothfire remains in doubt to take his place in the Stradbroke Handicap

Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote concedes his old warrior Rothfire remains in doubt to take his place in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap on Saturday week.

Champion jockey James McDonald on Sunshine In Paris edges out local hero Rothfire in a thrilling Group 1 Doomben 10,000. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography.

Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote concedes his old warrior Rothfire remains in doubt to take his place in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap on Saturday week.

Heathcote says the next 48 hours will be crucial as Rothfire recovers from a stone bruise suffered last Tuesday, forcing his scratching from Saturday’s Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup, which was postponed due to persistent heavy rain at Eagle Farm on Queensland Derby Day.

The Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) and the Queensland Derby (2400m) will now be run this week, in conjunction with the Queensland Oaks (2200m) feature, in a “Super Saturday” of racing at Eagle Farm featuring three Group 1s.

But seven-year-old gelding Rothfire won’t be there and he remains under an injury cloud for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap over 1400m at Eagle Farm.

* Read: Brisbane gets unexpected Super Saturday after Derby Day washout

“It’s frustrating because with a stone bruise, it’s not a simple thing,” Heathcote said.

“The laminae in their hoofs are like the nails of our fingers. They can be very painful and can take time to heal.

“We’re hoping that in the next 48 hours something develops, either he gets better or he gets worse.

“Now getting worse might sound crazy but if it’s going to develop into an abscess, then we want it to happen quickly so we can get him over it.

“Fortunately I’ve got two weeks (until the Stradbroke) so in the next 48 hours I want something to happen.

“He’s still very tender in the near fore hoof. We’re hoping and praying that something good happens in the next few days.”

Rothfire showed he was back to his devastating best when he delivered a tremendous fight against star mare Sunshine In Paris to just miss out in the $1.5m Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on a heavy track on May 17.

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

The 2020 JJ Atkins champion has won just under $3.5 million in prizemoney, despite suffering a litany of injuries during his illustrious career, including a sesamoid fracture in September 2020 that threatened to end his career.

Meanwhile, the Chris Waller-trained filly Belle Detelle is battling to be fit for the Queensland Oaks on Saturday.

Bookmakers have rated Belle Detelle as a $9 hope in the Oaks, but she was scratched as the race favourite in the rescheduled Queensland Derby, which was meant to be run last Saturday, after suffering a foot abscess.

Asked whether the injury would heal in time for the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes winner to run in the $700,000 Oaks on Saturday, Waller said “I don’t know”.

Sydney’s premier trainer also has $8 chance Movin Out running in the Oaks.

She produced a barnstorming surge from last to finish third in The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on May 24 in a Group 2 race won by Oaks favourite Philia.

Originally published as Ironhorse Rothfire remains in doubt to take his place in the Stradbroke Handicap