By Ben Caluzzi ROTHFIRE FAIRYTALE CONTINUES ON FRIDAY NIGHT IN SIZZLING MOIR The injuries that star Queensland sprinter Rothfire sustained in the 2020 Golden Rose could leave you to believe that he may never return to the races again – let alone recapture his best form. However, the son of Rothesay will this week face the starter nearly two years later to the day as one of the favoured runners in the Group 1 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes. The now five-year-old gelding went around as a dominant $1.55 favourite in that Golden Rose, and after working early to find the lead, he faltered in the home straight and fractured his sesamoid bone. Rothfire had to have bone fragments removed from that sesamoid – which trainer Robert Heathcote still carries around in a glass jar to remind himself of what a remarkable and collaborative effort it has taken to get his stable star back in work. The “Thriller from Chinchilla” – expertly named by Queensland race caller Josh Fleming when Rothfire won the 2020 J.J Atkins – has shown glimpses of his former self after a remarkable return to racing. But it wasn’t until a fortnight ago here at The Valley that team Heathcote could rejoice in their hard work properly. Rothfire won the Group 2 Mitty’s McEwen Stakes that
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