A good performance in a Group 1 sprint at Moonee Valley could land Queensland sprinter Rothfire a start in The Everest.
Trainer Rob Heathcote and connections of Rothfire have twice previously given up a berth in The Everest, once due to injury and once due to poor form.
Heathcote said there had been brief discussions about Rothfire heading to The Everest, but first the sprinter needs to win, or run well in the Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
“We’ve had two cracks before when he was selected,” Heathcote told RacingHQ.
“He was favourite for the Golden Rose and that’s when he suffered a sesamoid injury and two years later, he ran well in The Shorts, that was his first run off a long injury break, but I wasn’t happy with his performance in the Premiere Stakes, so we elected to pull the pin, as did the slot holder.
“So, maybe it will be third time lucky.”
For Heathcote the most important aspect in deciding on whether a start in The Everest is achievable is the weather.
Rothfire needs firm ground to perform at his best which is what he will get at The Valley.
“Rothfire doesn’t like a seriously wet track,” Heathcote said.
“The fact the weather is fine, he’s come back in fantastic order after a really good Winter Carnival and he’s probably as healthy and as fit as I’ve ever had him.
“He ran a super race behind Imperatriz and Friday night will tell the story.”
Rothfire had his first run off a break when a two-and-a-half length second to Imperatriz in the McEwen Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 9.
Blake Shinn was forced to go earlier than intended after Craig Williams made a move on Giga Kick.
“The first thing Blake said when he came in was ‘I apoligise guys’,” Heathcote said.
“He said he had to go when he did otherwise Willo would have probably blocked me in.
“It was similar to what happened in the Moir Stakes this time last year, when Willo took off on Bella Nipotina and held Rothfire in and we never got out.
“Blake was smart enough to realise that and Rothfire does what Rothfire does, he was so tough to the line and Giga Kick was not going to get past him.
“But Imperatriz was fantastic.”
If Rothfire does not gain a berth in The Everest, Heathcote said the Manikato Stakes (1200m) on Cox Plate Day was the target, with the sprinter potentially having a start in the Schillaci Sprint (1100m) on October 14 or a jump-out at Flemington in between to keep him up to the mark.
