Rothfire Races Away with 2020 JJ Atkins Crown

June 6, 2020

Rothfire Races Away with 2020 JJ Atkins Crown

Queensland two-year-old Rothfire has added a Group 1 to his already growing resume by taking out the $350,000 JJ Atkins (1400m) in an absolute canter on his home track.

The son of Rothesay raced every bit like the $3.50 favourite at Eagle Farm on Saturday as jockey Jim Byrne established a spot two-off the fence before kicking clear to win by a comfortable three lengths.

Jockey Jim Byrne celebrates a win aboard Rothfire in Saturday’s JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm. Photo: Steve Hart.

Rothfire, who has now won six from seven starts, got out well from the barriers and was happy to settle off the speed. The race tempo suited his turn of foot perfectly in the end, leaving trainer Rob Heathcote with his eyes towards the future.

“He’s some horse. I’m lost for words, and that’s not normally me,” Heathcote said after the race.

“He’s climbed his Everest today, and note I did use that word, Everest.”

Heathcote now plans to head to Sydney in the Spring for the world’s richest turf race, The Everest, at Randwick on October 17.

Rothfire has already received a touch up in All-In 2020 The Everest betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au, firming into $21.00 following his first Group 1 win.

“He’ll go to the paddock on Monday, I’ll take him around myself. He’ll take a nice break, we’ll set a plan in concrete as we get closer to a race, there’s a couple of races down in Sydney, maybe now that will open the door,” Heathcote went on to say.

“I did an interview with miRunners, as we know they’ve bought a slot in the Everest, and they interviewed me the other day and said he’s certainly in the running for that, particularly after what Yes Yes Yes did last year, so I think he’s in the running for that.”

Gotta Kiss held on for second on Saturday followed closely by a very brave The Drinks Cart.

2020 JJ Atkins Results

Colour Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 1 ROTHFIRE Robert Heathcote Jim Byrne 13 57kg $3.50F
2 13 GOTTA KISS Steven O’Dea Ms Stephanie Thornton 3.3L 15 55kg $20
3 5 THE DRINKS CART Toby & Trent Edmonds Brad Stewart 3.5L 8 57kg $21
4 11 OVERLORD Chris Waller Boris Thornton 3.9L 17 57kg $13
5 3 WISDOM OF WATER Toby & Trent Edmonds Robbie Fradd 4.1L 10 57kg $11
6 6 THUNDER MANIA John Symons & Sheila Laxon Taylor Marshall 4.2L 7 57kg $41
7 14 MACROURA Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Andrew Mallyon 4.4L 2 55kg $7
8 2 WILD RULER Peter & Paul Snowden Ryan Maloney 4.6L 14 57kg $11
9 10 TICK TOCK BOOM David Vandyke Jake Bayliss 4.8L 9 57kg $41
10 17 ISOTOPE Tony Gollan Baylee Nothdurft (a) 5L 12 55kg $5
11 18 STAROSA Tony Gollan James Innes Jnr 5.2L 11 55kg $151
12 15 COSMIC GOSSIP Stuart Kendrick Dale Smith 5.4L 16 55kg $201
13 7 SPOKESMAN Chris Waller Luke Dittman 5.6L 5 57kg $101
14 8 SAFFIANO Chris Waller Mark Du Plessis 5.9L 4 57kg $61
15 9 WAY BEYOND Stuart Kendrick Ryan Wiggins 6L 6 57kg $201
16 16 MINJEE Robert Heathcote Blake Spriggs 8.7L 18 55kg $101
17 12 SUPERARE Stuart Kendrick James Orman 10L 1 57kg $101
18 4 NOT AN OPTION Richard & Michael Freedman Michael Cahill 12.2L 3 57kg $18
20e SEA BOSS Kristen Buchanan 0
19e SEE MARIE Desleigh Forster Taylor Marshall 0

*Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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