Rob has an easy task as trainer
ROB Heathcote reckons almost anyone could train his gun Queensland three-yearold Rothfire.
“This is a quote I’m happy to hand out: ‘training good horses is easy’,’’ Heathcote said.
“I don’t have to do much with them, they look after themselves. Outside of basic animal husbandry, his daily therapeutic icing and veterinary care, it’s not hard to train a good horse like Rothfire.
“You could feed them Cornflakes and pull them out of the paddock and they will win for you.’’
Heathcote tells it as it is and always provides a journalist with good copy but he is selling himself short.
The Brisbane trainer deserves credit for identifying and developing Rothfire’s talent, with the gifted gelding chasing his eighth win from nine starts in the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney on Saturday.
Rothfire is the $1.95 favourite to take out the three-yearold classic after his outstanding Sydney debut when he scored a commanding win in the Run To The Rose.
Heathcote considers the likes of Ole Kirk, North Pacific, Peltzer, Mamaragan and King’s Legacy will improve out to 1400m but the trainer quickly added that his threeyear-old would, too.
“Rothfire has proven himself second-up over 1400m with a devastating win in the JJ Atkins so I am looking forward to it,’’ he said.
But Heathcote wasn’t aware Rothfire is out to become the first Queensland-trained horse to win a Group 1 race in Sydney since Captain Sonador won the 2012 Epsom Handicap.
“Hopefully I can fix that,’’ Heathcote said. “But everyone refers to me as a proud Queenslander. I’m not – I’m from Tasmania.
“I will say one thing about Queenslanders, when they do have something to cheer for they get behind it. That is certainly the case with Rothfire.
“While I’m a proud Tasmanian I’m more than happy to be representing Queensland in the Golden Rose and The Everest.’’
Heathcote said Rothfire had continued to improve since his win in the Run To The Rose two weeks ago.
“All trainers will tell you they rarely have their horse wound up for a first-up run as you risk flattening them,’’ Heathcote said. “But he’s a clean-winded horse and I’d rather have him a touch on the fresh side – we still have an Everest to win yet.’’