The door remains ajar for Rothfire to run in the $15 million The Everest, although trainer Robert Heathcote is keen to get through the sprinter’s next assignment before a final decision is made.
A brilliant first-up winner of the McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley, Rothfire will have his next start in the Group 1 Moir Stakes under lights at the same track on September 23.
With two Everest slot holders having expressed interest in Rothfire, Heathcote has decided to hold out until after the Moir to lock in plans and while a Melbourne spring campaign is the most likely option, The Everest has not been ruled out.
“Certainly not. I’ve been contacted by two slot holders who just expressed an interest,” Heathcote said.
“I said to them, ‘let’s get the Moir out of the way and then we can talk’.
“The Everest is a great race. It would be an even better race if you didn’t have Nature Strip, Eduardo, Mazu and Masked Crusader there. I’d be there.
“The reality is they’re the best sprinters in the land.
“I’m a realist. If I can be top dog in the Moir and the Manikato, I think that might be a path I’ll take.”
Rothfire has twice accepted Everest slots but has never contested the race, both times suffering injuries in the lead-up.
He succumbed to a career-threatening leg issue during the 2020 Golden Rose, then was found to have a joint problem after he was unplaced in last year’s Premiere Stakes.
While the gelding will always be a day-to-day proposition, Heathcote is thrilled with how well he has come back and says he has bounced out of his McEwen Stakes win.
“He’s super. He’s a happy horse and not only is he a happy horse, but he showed he can handle The Valley,” Heathcote said.
“Now we go to the Group 1 Moir, the three weeks between runs is perfect and then it’s four weeks to the Manikato (Stakes). It’s a juicy program.”