By Richard Goodbody
Rothfire ended the debate once and for all today as to who is Queensland’s premier two-year-old with a dominant victory in the Group 1 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm.
Having paid not once but twice for the Rothesay gelding after being caught up in an internet phishing scam, Rob Heathcote secured his first Group 1 victory on home soil as Jim Byrne steered him to a three-length win.
Gotta Kiss and The Drinks Cart flashed home to complete the placings.
All eyes were on Rothfire, however, as he travelled beautifully throughout to chalk up his sixth win from just seven starts, with a second placing to Kisukano in the QTIS 2YO Jewel at the Gold Coast the only blemish to his name.
“I’m lost for words and that’s not normally me,” Heathcote said.
“I think that’s the beauty of having a guy like Jimmy (Byrne) on. He’s just been so cool and calm like the horse.
“I’ve been the nervous wreck.”
Sitting outside of Wisdom Of Water and Isotope as he swept around the bend, Rothfire put the afterburners on as he took his stakes beyond $700,000.
The win also entitles connections to a QTISx bonus, which can be redeemed as a $100,000 sales voucher or $50,000 in cash.
“He’s climbed his Everest today and note that I did use that word: Everest,” Heathcote said.
“He needed to do that today against a really good field of two-year-olds…and I’ll be eagerly awaiting Daniel O’Sullivan’s rating after that race to see where he sits.”
Having confirmed Rothfire will head to the paddock on Monday, Heathcote indicated a possible Everest tilt was on the cards, while also eyeing off the Coolmore Stud Stakes up the straight at Flemington.