Rothfire ‘back in the game’ for third Stradbroke Handicap bid as James McDonald booked

Hopes are rising that racing warrior Rothfire will line up in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and the momentum continues to build with James McDonald booked to ride.

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

James McDonald is set to ride Rothfire in the Stradbroke Handicap as Rob Heathcote declared his wonder horse was “back in the game” and a strong chance of winning a race against time to line up in Queensland’s most prestigious race.

Hopes had been low that the “Thriller from Chinchilla” would recover from a foot injury in time to take his place in Saturday’s $3m Stradbroke at Eagle Farm.

• 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 taking his place in the Stradbroke.

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And Heathcote said “James McDonald is confirmed to ride” in the latest twist in an extraordinary tale.

Champion hoop McDonald sometimes has trouble netting a Stradbroke ride given the vast array of lightweights often in the field, but he will have no issue riding Rothfire at 55.5kg.

“Rothfire 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.”

James McDonald has been booked to ride Rothfire in the Stradbroke Handicap. Picture: Getty Images

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 was a $34 chance on Monday morning.

But after Racenet revealed Rothfire was a likely starter, and McDonald had been confirmed for the ride, Rothfire firmed to be a $21 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 as James McDonald booked