Caution over Roth fire
PROMINENT Eagle Farm trainer Robert Heathcote heads to the Gold Coast today with high hopes that his emerging star Roth fire can handle the heavy track as he lines up for his fifth straight win in the QTIS Jewel 2YO (1200m).
The track has been rated a heavy 10 after receiving more than 125mm of rain over the last week and the undefeated Roth fire is yet to step out on such a wet surface.
The only time that Roth fire has was been on a rainaffected track was his latest outing when he made it four from four with his easy win on a soft 5 track in the Jewel Prelude (1110m) for the colts and geldings at Doomben a fortnight ago.
“He won well on soft 5 and he was dominant but a heavy 10 is a completely different ball game,” Heathcote said.
Roth fire is at the very short quote at $1.10 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the QTIS Jewel 2YO and Heathcote said that it would be a risk for the punters to take such a short price on a horse stepping out on to a heavy 10 track for the first time.
“There is a heightened air of caution now. Who would be a punter to take a $1.10 on a heavy 10 track for the first time and the first time on a new track,” Heathcote said.
“I had Buffering as the favourite for the BTC Cup years ago on a heavy 10. When they jumped his back legs went straight out from under him and he missed it by three.
“That’s what can happen on wet tracks.”
“But (Rothfire) is a very very exciting youngster. He just seemingly does everything effortlessly and he has the amazing ability to travel.”
Jockey Robbie Fradd gets the mount again after being aboard Rothfire for his last two wins and Heathcote can envisage some of the other riders looking to test the odds- on favourite in the heavy conditions.
“Maybe there are one or two there that say, ‘look the only way we can get him beat is to take him on’,” he said.