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Rothfire's ‘miracle' victory fills Heathcote with pride

Tuesday, 06 Sep 2022
Rothfire's ‘miracle' victory fills Heathcote with pride

By Gilbert Gardiner
04:58pm • 03 September 2022

Brisbane upset Victorian interests for the second time in 48 hours on Saturday, as "miracle" sprinter Rothfire and Zoustyle fought out the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m).

Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained favourite Coolangatta faded into third after going stride for stride with speedy Zoustyle in the run.

While relatively pleased with Coolangatta's return against the older and more seasoned sprinters, the defeat has potentially dulled Maher's Moir aspirations for the electric three-year-old filly.

Two days after the Brisbane Lions snatched a dramatic AFL finals victory over Richmond, an emotional trainer Rob Heathcote savoured Rothfire's well-earned win on his first visit back to The Valley since he farewelled the great Buffering in 2016.

Rothfire, "the Thriller from Chinchilla", has raced six times without success after overcoming a career-threatening sesamoid injury in the 2020 Golden Rose.

"Gee, love this racetrack. I've had some good times here," Heathcote said.

"It was back in 2016 we farewelled the great Buffering and I've come back here today with a horse that I thought might have been as good but then he suffered a bad injury.

"That's his first win back since he suffered that injury and a lot of the owners are here today and I'm one very, very proud trainer.

"I said it would be a miracle if he ever got back to the races, he did, it would be a miracle if he could be competitive at this level and it's a miracle he's come back and won."

Heathcote, who won the McEwen Stakes with Buffering in 2011, has declared the Group 1 Moir and Manikato stakes as potential targets.

Buffering won the Moir Stakes three times (2012, 2014-15) and the Manikato in 2013.

Fellow Queensland trainer Tony Gollan, conditioner of Zoustyle, won The Valley's marquee Cox Plate-eve sprint last year with Jonker.

Rothfire has firmed in multiple TAB pre-nominations markets, including the Moir Stakes ($11 to $8) and Manikato Stakes ($15 to $11).

"I'd like to win another Moir and another Manikato," Heathcote said.

"I love coming back here."

Jockey Damian Lane summed up the McEwen perfectly aboard Rothfire, shadowing Coolangatta in the run.

"It unfolded great for me. I pinged the gates and I actually thought I might take it up but Zoustyle was quick to boot through and I got a lovely drop on Coolangatta," Lane said.

"I thought I was the winner on straightening, although Zoustyle showed some resistance, but he was good late."

Rothfire is the third Queensland-trained galloper to win a Saturday race in Melbourne the past month, following the successes of Uncommon James (August 13) and Shooting For Gold (August 27).