Jimmysstar (Per Incanto) won’t have it all his own way as favourite for this afternoon’s $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (Gr 1, 1300m) when he lines up against a top-class field led by proven Group 1 sprinter Rothfire (Rothesay) and rising star Napoleonic (Wootton Bassett)
Rothfire is on a roll as a last-start, long-shot winner of the Doomben 10,000 (Gr 1, 1300m) for trainer Rob Heathcote. “He’s taken us on a wonderful journey,” Heathcote admitted following the $51 boilover. “I thought we had already reached the pinnacle so I wouldn’t be underestimating him in the Kingsford Smith.”
Another Group 1 would rekindle memories of halcyon days for his connections going back to the 2020 J J Atkins Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Eagle Farm and interstate victories in the 2020 The Run to the Rose (Gr 2, 1200m) at Rosehill and 2022 Ian McEwen Stakes (Gr 2, 1000m) at Moonee Valley.
Heathcote has been to the mountain and back fighting numerous injuries with Rothfire but the veteran sprinter is class and courage personified winning 12 times in 43 starts earning over $5.81 million for a syndicate managed by his wife Vicki.
Rothfire (8g Rothesay – Huss On Fire by Hussonet) was bred by Gleeson Thoroughbreds and was sold privately to Heathcote for $10,000. He was unbeaten in his first six starts as a younger horse at Eagle Farm where he appreciates the wide open spaces of his home track.
Heathcote is battling influenza and wasn’t able to welcome a stable winner back to scale this week but the bug won’t stop him from the Kingsford Smith meeting to hopefully see his stable star win the main race at his third attempt.
“Rothfire pulled up well after the Doomben 10,000 and we drew a good barrier and any more rain won’t hurt his chances. He’s going well and is ready to rock ‘n’ roll again.”
Brad Rawiller rode him for the first time in the Doomben 10,000 and is hoping for a repeat performance. “I knew the trainer had done his job last time and I knew the horse would keep giving because he’s a fighter. That made me think we might be on here today and hopefully we’re on again this Saturday.”
Napoleonic goes out at each-way odds against a red-hot field of older sprinters in the Kingsford Smith Cup but trainer Tom Charlton believes the 3yo colt has a Group 1 in him especially after a tip-top third first-up in the Doomben 10,000.
“He’s got a beautiful, natural cruising speed and action. He’s drawn wide but I will tell Mark (Zahra) what I told James (McDonald) before he won the Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley in the spring. ‘Just trust the horse and if you get caught deep, don’t overthink it, just keep it simple.’ He’s very tractable and there’s more improvement in him after the 10,000.”
Napoleonic (3c Wootton Bassett – Jolie Brise by Fastnet Rock) was bred and sold by Widden Stud for $360,000 at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to agent Dean Hawthorne on behalf of Pinecliff Racing principal Jonathan Munz.
Former Coolmore Stud shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) has left a lasting legacy in both hemispheres and he can sire a Group 1 first in Australia this afternoon with 3yo colts Napoleonic and Providence and both engaged at the elite level at Eagle Farm.
Providence is the $5 opening favourite for the $1 million Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) and 40 minutes later Napoleonic goes out at each-way odds in the $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (Gr 1, 1300m).
Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) was taken all too early aged 17 when he succumbed to acute pneumonia last September. His loss rocked the bloodstock world on the back of year-on-year service fee increases from $71,500 to $385,000 in the Hunter Valley.
“Wootton Bassett was one of the world’s great sires,” Coolmore noted in a press release. “His story as a sire is a unique one following an incredible start at Haras d’Etreham in France before he was acquired by Coolmore in 2020.”
Providence (3c Wootton Bassett – Southbank by Fastnet Rock) was bred and sold by Munz through Bhima Thoroughbreds for $625,000 at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. His dam was placed in the 2019 MRC Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and second dam Rezoned (Zabeel) won a South Australian Fillies Classic (Gr 3, 2500m).
Chris Waller has accepted with a five-strong team for the Queensland Derby and Providence is the preferred choice for the master trainer who is coming off his 200th Group 1 winner with Birdman (Ire) in the Doomben Cup last Saturday.
“He ran a very good race in the Rough Habit Plate a fortnight ago,” Waller said. “He’s bred to stay and James (McDonald) rides him again from a good draw. He’s my pick.”
Providence is the $5 equal favourite for the classic with stablemate Monopolistic. They both race in the China Horse Club colours for a high-profile syndicate led by Newgate Bloodstock principal Henry Field, China Horse Club, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy Racing.
Monopolistic (3g Savabeel – Bayrock by Fastnet Rock) is improving with racing and has winning soft track form that’s a plus ahead of Saturday’s rating that will be soft at best. “Ben (Melham) will have his job cut out from 17,” Waller predicted. “It’s a tricky draw but Monopolistic was an awesome winner at Gosford earlier this month.”