Luke Nolen gets late call to ride Rothfire after Damian Lane suspended on Melbourne Cup day
Golden Eagle-winning jockey Luke Nolen has received a pick-up ride on a key chance in the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Flemington.
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Rob Heathcote watched Luke Nolen and Black Caviar beat up on his former sprint champion Buffering, so reckons there is no better jockey to get a late call-up to ride Rothfire down the famous Flemington straight on Saturday.
Buffering won seven Group 1s but not before going to the well several times without joy against Black Caviar.
In 2011, Buffering ran second behind Black Caviar in what was then known as the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic but is now known as the Darley Champions Sprint on the final day of the Melbourne Cup week carnival.
Heathcote will unleash Group 1 winner Rothfire in Saturday’s Champions Sprint, tangling with the likes of superstar Nature Strip and The Everest winner Giga Kick.
With Damian Lane suspended for breaching whip rules on Melbourne Cup day, set to start is suspension after Oaks day on Thursday, Nolen has got the call to ride Rothfire on Saturday.
“There is probably no better man to ride Rothfire on Saturday, Luke is certainly well versed riding the Flemington straight six with his feats on Black Caviar,” Heathcote said.
“Luke will be great, although he probably doesn’t need the money as much now after winning the Golden Eagle.
“After a mild moment of panic when Damian Lane got suspended, I was very happy to get Luke for Rothfire.
“It is a shame that Damian got suspended for a whip infringement but I suppose jockeys know the rules.
“I’ve had a fair bit of success with Luke over the years, he has ridden quite a number of winners for me.”
Heathcote said he would be happy just to run a place with Rothfire on Saturday in what he considers a “mini-Everest”
However, he said the race will be a good guide to the future for Rothfire who has performed well in the Melbourne spring, including winning a Group 2 race and finishing runner-up in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes.
Heathcote is eyeing off a trip west for Rothfire for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot on November 26.
He also wants to deploy Rothfire in Dubai next year, in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint which was famously won by Buffering in 2016.
Originally published as Luke Nolen gets late call to ride Rothfire after Damian Lane suspended on Melbourne Cup day
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