Queensland three-year-old Rothfire has been installed as the odds-on favourite for the 2020 Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Rothfire, above, is the odds on favourite for the 2020 Golden Rose at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Rothfire was one of the juvenile stars of the 2020 Brisbane Winter Carnival with his win in the Group 1 $350,000 J J Atkins (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

The Robert Heathcote trained gelding was then set for a Spring Carnival campaign and showed the Sydneysiders his ability with a dominant first up win in the Group 2 $200,000 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on September 12.

Top Brisbane jockey Jim Byrne will continue his association with Rothfire who has drawn barrier eight in the nine-horse Golden Rose field.

Stable representative Melanie Sharpe is supervising the Sydney preparation of Rothfire and is very happy with the way he has come through his Run To The Rose win.

“He’s tightened up really nicely, his coat looks even better again even though it looked good going into the Run To The Rose,’’ Sharpe told Racing New South Wales News Desk.

“I think we’re on track. There’s a little more pressure there but at the end of the day we want to remember that the Everest is our main goal.

“He’s the type of horse that always tries his heart out, always puts his best foot forward, he puts everything into his races.

“He’s only three and at the end of the day we’re looking after him because we want to have that longevity Buffering had and see him racing up to that age.”

Rothfire is the current $1.95 favourite for the Golden Rose at Ladbrokes.com.au with his nearest rival in the betting the Team Hawkes trained North Pacific at $5.50.

Rothfire has also been signed up to run in the slot owned by MiRunners in the $15m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 17 and shares the second line of betting at $6 with last Saturday’s Shorts winner Classique Legend and Adelaide flyer Gytrash.

The Chris Waller trained Nature Strip remains at the top of The Everest betting at $4 at Ladbrokes.com.au.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.