Speaker 1Well, I said before in our intro, probably this horse deserves a movie named after him, I reckon. What a story it is. One of the best stories in Australian racing for mine. The Rothfire story, and his trainer, Robert Heathcote, joins us on the line on Radio Tab and Sky Sports Radio. Morning, Robert.
Speaker 2Yeah, good morning, Dave.
Speaker 1How did he pull up after the Moyer, mate? He's a marvel.
Speaker 2Yeah, he pulled up well, and look, to be perfectly honest, we always expected the 1,000 at the age of nine to be a little bit sharp for him, and that's how it's turned out, but look, he ran a good, solid, respectable race, beaten three lengths or so, and boy, they did mess around. They ran 57.2 on a soft seven. Wow, that's flying.
Speaker 1Where does he go to next? Where's his next destination?
Speaker 2We'll go to the Manicato. The 1,200 metres around the bend, I think, will suit him better at Caulfield, and yeah, we'll give him another go. He's pulled up great.
Speaker 1Is there a chance we see him in Sydney?
Speaker 2There is, because the Sydney Stakes is high on the agenda again after, you know, that amazing win last year, so that's the plan. Caulfield, and then, you know, up to Sydney on his way home, and we'll have a run in the Sydney Stakes again.
Speaker 1Well, it'll be great to have him here again, because he's such a great horse. He's a fan favourite, too, and I'm no doubt, as we know, a stable favourite and a punter's favourite. You've got a good team at Ipswich today, mate. I'll start with Lottery King in race one. You've got Michael Rodd on board, banging on the door. You've drawn a gate at Ipswich, gate one.
Speaker 2Always important to draw well at Ipswich, and particularly from that tricky mile start, and the rail's out 10 metres, so Michael should be able to park him up maybe two pairs back. He's racing well. He's not winning, but, you know, he's running good, solid, honest races, and I think the 1,700 metres today from one with the run that he's likely to get should suit.
Speaker 1Race two, you've got a two-pronged attack, Flying Mig and Worsberg going around, and again, the barrier gods have been kind to you.
Speaker 2Yeah, very much so. First up in their careers for both of them, so it's always quite a challenge to take on experienced horses, but both of them have ability. Admittedly, they're big odds today because they've never been seen on a racetrack, but they've both got their share of ability. Whilst I don't expect either of them to win, I expect them to run better than their odds reflect.
Speaker 1What about race four? Belly Youngberry, you've got riding in this 13.50, a gilding by Russian Revolution. Is it Bolshevik Road?
Speaker 2Yes, Bolshevik Road. Yeah, look, again, he falls into that. He's an honest, consistent customer. We gave him a crack over a mile at Eagle Farm, and we don't think he got the mile. His best races have been at Ipswich with plenty of speed on, so that's the key to his chances. Good, solid tempo, drawn soft in three. Hopefully, he has a tendency to miss them or fluff the start and get back, but if he can be... Midfield and, well, Belly Youngberry, how well is she riding? Three kilos off is a definite plus.
Speaker 1And you've got, in race five, Puchek going around.
Speaker 2First up, she's an import, and she came when they bought her. She was small, and she came out, and she's never really grown. Look, she's got a share of ability, but she's going to have to run up to her best today, first up, to be in the finish.
Speaker 1What's your best chance for a winner? Is it the horse in the first? Yes, lottery thing, without a doubt. Okay. And then abounding, you'll accept for the weekend?
Speaker 2We will. We'll give her a crack up the straight at Flemington, the Bobby Lewis. We were going to run at Sandown last week, and then they called the races off, and they were going to run today, but we gave her some treatment on the Saturday, which precluded her from running today. So we'll go around in the Bobby Lewis. Big field, quality field, but, you know, she's a quality mare herself. Placed at group one level, multiple group two and three. She's a quality winner, so she'll race okay.
Speaker 1Is Blake Shin riding her on the weekend, or have you got a different rider?
Speaker 2No, on the weekend now, Blake couldn't ride. He was committed to another one. We've got Ethan Brown booked, and look, no one rides that 1200 straight as well as Ethan.
Speaker 1No, exactly right. Well, good luck with abounding. Good luck with these horses today, and great to hear that Roth Fire we're going to see in the Manukato. Good to talk with you, Rob. Good on you, Dave. Cheers, mate. There's Rob Heathcote this morning on Radio Tap.
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