An online scam meant Heathcote actually ended up having to pay for the horse twice. Maybe it was fait, but $22,000 later Rothfire and Heathcote first met. It’s fair to say $3.5 million dollars and seven years later Heathcote doesn’t mind having paid a little extra ‘interest’ on what has turned into his banner horse. Rothfire is now looking to follow in the footsteps of Heathcote’s original pin-up galloper Buffering who won the Manikato Stakes back in 2013. After 18 Group 1 attempts and 10 placings, his crowning moment came at The Valley holding off the Hong Kong champion in Lucky Nine. “It is one of my favourite places to come,” Heathcote said reflecting on his Valley successes. “And what a double header this weekend, Rothfire winning the Manikato and the Brisbane Lions belting the Cats… how good would that be?” Heathcote said 18-year-old Buffering even still pays a visit to his Eagle Farm stables every few months after three wins in the Moir Stakes, a Manikato Stakes and McEwen Stakes all at The Valley. Also with a McEwen Stakes win to his own name, Rothfire has a second placing to Bella Nipotina in a Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes and comes off a luckless run in the Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes last start. With multiple Manikato Stakes winning jockey Nash Rawiller bullish to chase the ride, Heathcote is confident the Rothfire story still has a chapter or two to come yet. “He was unlucky in the Moir and many feel had he got clear air he would have been in the finish,” he said. “He has been a challenge to train and keep sound and healthy over his career but he is in great order. “I am not here making up the numbers, ‘Rothy’ will go well he always does” Rothfire is one of five Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes runners who took the opportunity to gallop at The Valley on Monday morning alongside Lady Shenandoah, Skybird, Charm Stone and Payline.
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