Iron horse Rothfire on verge shock comeback ahead of lucrative summer carnival

The Thriller From Chinchilla completed a course proper gallop at Eagle Farm on Tuesday and passed with flying colours as he continues his come back from what looked a career-ending injury ahead of the winter carnival.

It is Melbourne Cup week, but there are promising signs for one of Queensland’s pin-up horses.

Group 1 winner Rothfire has been in work at Rob Heathcote’s stables for more than a month as he continues his remarkable comeback from yet another injury.

With the summer carnival on the doorstep, Rothfire worked on the Eagle Farm course proper on Tuesday morning and came through it in flying colours and injury free.

Heathcote feared Rothfire’s career may be over before the winter carnival this year when he had severe swelling in one of his previously injured joints.

The ‘Thriller from Chinchilla” dodged a bullet, avoiding serious injury, however Heathcote opted to give his stable star every opportunity to come back, which now looks to have paid dividends.

The summer carnival officially kicks off at the Sunshine Coast in two weeks.

Queenslander!! Rothfire gets the win in the Run To The Rose! pic.twitter.com/HLJ80842D2

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 12, 2020

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BARGAIN BUY

The $17,000 bargain buy upstaged the $800,000 “Adonis” at Eagle Farm on Saturday, with Matt Dunn joking he has come out in front of Tony Gollan with his filly Strawberry Smash.

All eyes were on the Gollan-trained Lockyer, who was easy in betting, but threw down a strong Magic Millions marker when the expensive colt travelled wide without cover for much of the QTIS Handicap (1000m).

Strawberry Smash was a huge drifter in betting, jumping at $15, with her performance even surprising Dunn, who confessed he didn’t know where she was at.

“I wasn’t sure if she was ready just yet, clearly on today’s performance, she is,” he said.

Strawberry Smash collected a cool $80,000 for connections on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters — Trackside Photography.

“She has been a bit all over the joint, so I can understand the drift, her first trial was horrible.

“She’s improving, the horse she beat today is an Adonis, so she has done well to beat him I reckon.”

Connections are now miles in front of their $17,000 outlay after they collected in excess of $80,000 after QTIS bonuses on Saturday alone.

“We are in front at the moment aren’t we,” Dunn laughed.

“It’s a bargain now, she is obviously a Magic Millions horse and that is why she is in work now.

“She is a bit fragile still so I don’t want to overtax her to get her in (the 2YO Classic), I don’t know if it is enough off today.

“She might need more to get in, we will take it as it comes.”

🍓 Strawberry Smash smashes them and wins on debut at Eagle Farm!@mattydunnracing | @mallyon_andrew | @BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/tZJ6sOapif

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 2, 2024

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CALLOW’S DAY

Victoria Derby day is a happy one for Noel Callow and the veteran jockey was at his vigorous best at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Callow won the 2005 Derby aboard Benicio for Lee Freedman and was back in the winners circle aboard Safework after out-duelling hot favourite Appin Girl in the straight.

The Group 1 winner and Boris Thornton were going toe-to-toe in the straight before Callow says he was happy to allow Thornton out to see whose horse was most fit.

“My horses wasn’t loving the bumping, so I let him out and at the end of the day my horse was fitter and stronger,” he said.

Safework gets the win at Eagle Farm for Noel Callow and Scott Morrisey!@BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/a8UjC45Qex

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 2, 2024

Originally published as Iron horse Rothfire on verge shock comeback ahead of lucrative summer carnival