Australia: Rothfire will be tested against big field in Atkins Stakes
Through his Southern Hemisphere 2-year-old season, Rothfire has thrived at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane, Australia.
Rothfire is trained by Robert Heathcote, who is based at Eagle Farm. A gelding, Rothfire is unbeaten in four starts at the course, including the Group 2 Champagne Classic at six furlongs on May 23.
Rothfire may need the local advantage in Saturday’s Group 1 J.J. Atkins Stakes at seven furlongs at Eagle Farm. Rothfire will be favored, probably around 2-1, and will face a test. He tends to lead and will face as many as 17 rivals, by far the largest field of his career.
Rothfire has won 5 of 6 starts, with the only blemish a second by two lengths to Kisukano in the Jewel Stakes at six furlongs March 14 at Gold Coast Racecourse. Rothfire won the Champagne Classic by 1 1/4 lengths over Isotope in his only subsequent start.
Isotope, trained at Eagle Farm by Tony Gollan, was beaten for the first time in her third start in the Champagne Classic. Isotope is one of seven fillies among the 20 entries for the $243,250 Atkins along with the undefeated Macroura. The race has a safety limit of 18 runners.
Macroura has won three races since the start of her career in early April, including the Woodland Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs May 16 at Rosehill Gardens. She is a threat from off the pace, particularly if Rothfire faces early pressure.
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The Atkins and the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday are the final races at the highest level of the Australian autumn. The next Group 1 race in Australia will be run in late August.
First post time at Eagle Farm is 9:10 p.m. Eastern, or 6:10 p.m. Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
The Stradbroke Handicap will have a maximum field of 18 and is led by the 3-year-old Dawn Passage, who has won three consecutive stakes since late April. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Dawn Passage won the Group 3 Fred Best Classic at 6 3/4 furlongs at Doomben Racecourse last Saturday.
The $243,250 Stradbroke Handicap is Dawn Passage’s first start against older horses. He has been assigned 110.2 pounds, well below topweight Trekking at 127.8 pounds.
Trekking, one of four runners in the field trained by James Cummings, won the Group 1 Goodwood Stakes at six furlongs on May 16 at Morphettville Racecourse to end a five-race losing streak.