Heathcote: Rothfire's next race "could" be his last

By Connor Scanlon

On Saturday, Rothfire ended his 2,169-day Group 1 winning drought by taking out the $1.5 million Doomben 10,000 (1200m).

The Rob Heathcote-trained eight-year-old jumped as a $67 roughie with Sportsbet to win the Group 1 and achieved the remarkable, winning by 1.01 lengths.

His next start will be in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m), but questions have been raised regarding if the son of Rothesay will retire after that sprint on May 30.

The trainer confirmed on SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up that it may be his final race, but ultimately the horse himself will let the Heathcote team know when his time is up.

“It could be (his last run),” Heathcote revealed.

“At the end of the day, as I've always said, we will know when his competitiveness is down and when he doesn't want that saddle on his back.

“We will know. He'll tell us, and this could well be it for him.”

Referencing retired stable star Buffering, Heathcote revealed he only retired that gelding after he lost his love for the sport.

The trainer will do that same thing with Rothfire.

“I did the same with Buff, mate,” Heathcote said.

“He ran a length and three quarters, sixth in the Manikato, and that was his last race, we retired him. Brownie (Damian Browne) winked at me when he came in and said that's enough.

“So, it'll be the same with Rothy, but he's a bloody happy horse. When he's light and he's got that get out of my way attitude, he's ready for another race.”

Gareth Hall continued by exclaiming that “it’s not fair” to retire a horse when they are still loving competing at the races, regardless of their age.

“People go, ‘Oh, they're getting old,’ (but) it's not fair to retire them when they're loving life like that," Hall added.

“This is the best life that that they'll have. Like he'd get massages, he'll get looked after, he’ll get carrots, he gets to do something that he loves.”

Rothfire is currently $11 to win the Kingsford-Smith Cup on May 30 before potentially retiring.