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.
