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Rob Heathcoe‘s old marvel, Rothfire, stunned the sprinting ranks at Doomben on Saturday, producing a powerhouse late surge to claim the 2026 Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 in one of the great modern upsets of the race’s rich history.

The rising nine-year-old delivered one of Brisbane racing’s great feel-good moments, rewriting his own legend with a stirring hometown victory in the Group 1 $1.5 million Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 (1200m) — a win that felt like destiny finally paying its dues.

The Queensland warrior claimed his second career Group 1, a remarkable six years after his breakout JJ Atkins triumph during the pandemic-hit 2020 winter carnival.

The “Thriller from Chinchilla” returned to the Doomben spotlight in style, delivering Queensland its first Doomben 10,000 victory since Spirit Of Boom’s famous 2014 win — a result made even more poignant following the champion stallion’s recent passing. That year produced a historic local trifecta with Temple Of Boom and Buffering filling the minors; this year, Rothfire helped revive that maroon-blooded magic.

A Queensland quinella capped the moment, with Spicy Martini ($21) producing a career-best run for Toby Edmonds to grab second, while Napoleonic ($7.50) and James McDonald finished a gritty third to round out the placings.

Rothfire’s resurgence, longevity, and sheer will to compete continue to defy logic — and on Saturday, he reminded the racing world why he remains one of Queensland’s most beloved modern sprinters.

The Rothesay gelding, already a cult hero for his resilience, added another remarkable chapter to a career that has veered from heartbreak to triumph more times than most horses experience in a lifetime. From the bizarre early-career phishing scam that forced Heathcote to buy him twice, to the devastating injury in the 2020 Golden Rose that threatened to end everything, Rothfire has spent years defying the odds. On Saturday, he did it again.

Heathcote, who has long described last year’s Group 3 Sydney Stakes win as the gelding’s finest hour, didn’t hesitate to elevate this one above it.

“I thought the Sydney Stakes was the pinnacle, but this tops it,” he said, beaming as the Doomben crowd roared behind him.

“To win this race, at home, in front of my family and such a huge crowd — it’s super.”

For Heathcote, the Doomben 10,000 had been a race of near misses. Rothfire was edged out last year by Sunshine In Paris, while stable star Buffering famously placed three years running from 2012-14. Those defeats lingered. Rothfire’s win washed them away.

“What a journey this horse has taken us on,” Heathcote said.

“Redemption is sweet.”

The path to Saturday wasn’t smooth. Rothfire finished unplaced first-up in The Archer at Rockhampton, and Heathcote spent the early part of the week searching for a jockey. He eventually turned to Victorian veteran Brad Rawiller, who flew north for just one ride — and made it count.

Rawiller, celebrating his 26th Group 1 success and his first since the Winterbottom Stakes aboard Elite Street, said he felt the old fire burning.

“We’re two iron men, me and the horse,” Rawiller said.

“It was D-Day for both of us. I knew if he got the right run, he’d give a big kick — and he did.”

It was Zarastro, who eventually faded to finish second last, leading the Doomben 10,000 field around the final turn as Rawiller sat patient on 60/1 outsider Rothfire sixth from the front runner at the top of the straight.

Rothfire surged down the outside with trademark grit, charging right down the outside before hitting the lead 50m out from the line to sweep past Spicy Martini and score by a length, with Napoleonic a nose away in third to complete the Doomben 10,000 trifecta.

Rothfire has subsequently firmed in from $26 to $11 in futures markets on the Group 1 $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 30.

2026 Kingsford Smith Cup Odds

2026 Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 Results

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