Rothfire can keep improving despite stunning first up win at Rosehill
Jockey Jim Byrne believes Rothfire is primed for more victories in Sydney after a stunning performance in the Run To The Rose, while Alligator Blood has been ruled out of The Everest.
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Jim Byrne has no issue with Saturday’s Run To The Rose being a gut-buster for Rothfire and suggests he will be better again when he reaches the Golden Rose in a fortnight.
Rothfire clocked a super-fast time in a high pressure race on Saturday, which leaves the question of whether it might flatten the horse given he was only first up.
But Byrne said all the signs he looks for pointed to Rothfire coming through in good order.
“That last 50m he did feel it. He hit the wall and he’s going to be a lot better next time,” he told Radio TAB’s Past the Post.
“You have to remember, going into (Saturday) he missed his trial and we’d only given him a track gallop.
“When I pulled up he was having a good blow, but he didn’t give me the feeling like I emptied him completely. He was still quite bright coming back and was just taking it all in.
“In two weeks’ time I’m more than confident we will have the right horse there on the day.”
Rob Heathcote said the first phone call he made after the Run To The Rose was to MiRunners boss Steve Brown, who put his faith in Rothfire for an Everest slot before his first up heroics on Saturday.
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Brown and the MiRunners team were derided in some quarters for “jumping the gun” and locking in an Everest contender before the horse had made his season return.
“He had faith to lock in a deal with me, which meant so much to me and I’m glad Rothfire could repay the faith and now be a genuine Everest contender,” Heathcote said.
While the likelihood is that he will watch the Golden Rose from afar, Heathcote is hoping the tight border restrictions might have eased by the time The Everest is run.
“I am still hopeful this can be resolved before October 17 and I can in fact travel down to NSW and not have to do 14 days quarantine,” he said.
NO EVEREST FOR ALLIGATOR BLOOD
David Vandyke has ruled out an Everest start for Alligator Blood, with everything now geared towards the October 31 Golden Eagle, with one run beforehand.
“The Everest is no longer an option, straight to the Silver Eagle. He has pulled up well,” Vandyke reported.
LADBROKES WEEKEND REPORT
Best Result: Travimyfriend, Flemington, Race 6: Windstorm was the anchor for plenty of multis and Travimyfriend was friendless, so we took the lot.
Worst Result: Mo’unga, Rosehill, Race 5: On a very tough day for punters, Mo’unga delivered a rare positive result.
Best Backed: Masked Crusader, Rosehill, Race 4: This wasn’t a pretty watch for his backers.
MARKETS FROM LADBROKES
Golden Rose, run September 26
$3 Rothfire
$6.50 North Pacific
$9 Farnan
$12 Ole Kirk, Peltzer
$14 Mamaragan
$15 Doubtland, King’s Legacy
$19 Prague
$26+ Others
THIS WEEK
Tuesday: Yeppoon, Taree, Corowa, Wodonga
Wednesday: Eagle Farm, Warwick Farm, Bendigo, Balaklava, Belmont
Thursday: Townsville, Kembla Grange, Narromine, Echuca, Northam
Friday: Kilcoy, Newcastle, Canberra, Geelong, Carnarvon
Saturday: Gold Coast, Randwick, Caulfield, Morphettville, Belmont, Ipswich, Atherton, Clermont, Dalby, Gympie, Mackay, Morven, Mount Isa, Tatura, Newcastle, Alice Springs
Sunday: Sunshine Coast, Nowra, Armidale, Ballarat, Murray Bridge, Kalgoorlie, Devonport (synthetic)
THE QUOTE
“Unfortunately my horse being first-up he reacted and just took off, basically. I didn’t go out there with a plan to be any more aggressive than usual. It was instinctive. Once I made that decision the horse took charge of me and took off.” – Hugh Bowman to stewards after being queried about his ride on Farnan in the Run to the Rose.
THE TALKING POINT
Rothfire and Farnan dominated discussions from Rosehill, but further down south Russian Camelot was the talk of the town after enduring a tough run in the Makybe Diva Stakes before still winding up second. No doubt it was a good run and from a Melbourne Cup point of view, he looks the real deal. But $5 in the Cox Plate seems a bit skinny.
THE RIDE
Skate To Paris had only won one from 12 at Doomben and drew the outside, so punters were lukewarm on her chances, but the combination of her being in sublime form and Cassidy producing an absolute gem saw her win again.
THREE TO BACK
Good Chat, Doomben, Race 4: Slow-ish getaway might have been costly. Tidy effort at start number three.
Ole Kirk, Rosehill, Race 6: Shaping well for further now. Caulfield Guineas looks suitable.
Django Freeman, Flemington, Race 5: There will be a nice staying event for him over the next month.
RISK
Savatiano, Flemington, Race 3: Out of character for her, but targets will only be harder from here on in.
THE FLOP
Amiche, Doomben, Race 2: Lacked the same zip that saw her post slick time a fortnight earlier.
SHARP SHOOTERS
The Makybe Diva Stakes has been a notoriously tough race for punters (six double figure winners in the past decade), but they nailed it this year, zoning in on Fierce Impact, who is just the second favourite to win the race in the past dozen years.
MORE NEWS:
Racing NSW stewards to study and review Hugh Bowman’s ride on Farnan
Rothfire firms to win The Everest as Farnan drifts after Saturday’s Rosehill races
Rothfire burns rivals in Run To The Rose; Hugh Bowman grilled over Farnan ride
Originally published as Rothfire can keep improving despite stunning first up win at Rosehill