Rothfire joins Nature Strip (Nicconi), who will run for the TAB, Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for Inglis and Bon Ho’s Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) as confirmed starters in the Royal Randwick feature on October 17.
However, the agreement reached with the connections of the Rob Heathcote-trained sprinter is a flexible arrangement that suits both parties.
“Rob is a pretty pragmatic guy and a good-humoured bloke. We ideally would have liked to have waited, but there was another offer, so Rob has given us the option that if he doesn’t stand up in the G2 Run To The Rose or the G1 Golden Rose S. we can reconsider,” miRunners Chief Executive Officer Steve Brown said.
“We’ve got a great relationship with Rob so we will see how it rolls and it’s in the best interests of the horse as well, which is pretty important.
“There is flexibility with the arrangement with Rob so at this stage the deal is done and we’re heading toward The Everest with Rothfire. We are very excited to be partnered up with the Thrilla from Chinchilla.”
“We are very excited to be partnered up with the Thrilla from Chinchilla.” – Steve Brown
Micro-ownership company miRunners purchased the GPI Racing slot back in May for this year's The Everest with 1000 shares offered to the public for $880.
A panel of four industry figures, form expert Daniel O’Sullivan, former Group 1-winning jockey Tye Angland, SKY Racing's Lizzie Jelfs and former international cricketer Mark Waugh, the husband of trainer Kim Waugh, worked with miRunners in the Everest selection process.
Trainer Robert Heathcote (left) has allowed flexibility within the arrangement
“It’s a wonderful story with people from New Zealand and all over Australia involved and 1800 in total and we reckon we’ll end up with 2000 people in this team,” Brown said.
“It’s unique and if we can complete it it will be a wonderful story for racing. Next Saturday will be quite telling and the Run To The Rose will be exciting.
“He is an exciting horse and he is going to have to be a freak to win, but maybe he is. We’ll get a feel for that over the next couple of races and hopefully it works out well for everyone concerned.”
“He is an exciting horse and he is going to have to be a freak to win, but maybe he is.” – Steve Brown
Rothfire was unbeaten in his first four starts last season before a runner-up finish at the Gold Coast, but he was quickly back to his winning ways.
He won the G2 Champagne Classic at his following appearance and then signed off his 2-year-old campaign with a sublime performance to win the JJ Atkins S. after which he was spelled.
Rothfire returned to win a trial in scintillating fashion at Doomben last month, but then missed another scheduled trial outing after suffering an injury when he was cast in his box.
He showed he had overcome that scare with a dashing gallop between races at Eagle Farm last Saturday and will be ridden in his upcoming Sydney campaign by regular rider Jim Byrne.
Heathcote secured Rothfire for $10,000 from boutique Chinchilla breeders Gleeson Thoroughbreds and was purchased sight unseen.
“The funny part about it is that I paid the bill twice. They sent me the bill and I paid it the next day and three weeks later they said they had never received the money,” Heathcote told TDN AusNZ.
“The money had left my account and I got caught in one of those phishing scams where the money went to bloody Nigeria or somewhere.
“I paid the account twice, but I’ll happily settle for that now that he’s won $700,000 odd. The sky is the limit with him."
