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.
Front Page, the 3-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding, has been the subject of good news for his backers in the last few months.
A winner of 2 of 4 starts, Front Page is unlucky not to have three wins, having lost a handicap by a nose in early March.
The success has its ramifications. Front Page will carry joint top weight of 134.4 pounds when he starts in a handicap at about six furlongs Thursday at Wangaratta Racecourse.
Andrew Le Jeune
R1: 8-2-1-6
R2: 10-6-12-8
R3: 2-1-4-11
R4: 1-3-8-4
R5: 9-8-4-10
R6: 12-2-6-1
R7: 5-4-10-9
R8: 9-1-5-2
R9: 7-5-9-1
Best: R7 N5 Columbus County
Each/way: R5 N9 Incanto Prepared
Play: R7 Q/QP 4-5-10
Proletariat, a winner of 4 of 10 starts in New Zealand, will have his debut in Australia in a seven-furlong handicap Wednesday on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.
Proletariat will need a sharp effort to win his first start since January at a distance shorter than his recent successes. Proletariat won three consecutive handicaps in New Zealand last November and December at 1 5/16 miles and 1 3/8 miles.
Felix Bay, who won 7 of 80 starts, began his career in December 2012 in Australia.
The 10-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding was useful on the flat, winning four times from 2013-15, but has developed a greater stature in jump races, particularly in the last year.
A two-time winner over hurdles, Felix Bay is unbeaten in two starts over the tougher fences in steeplechases, including a seven-length win in a chase at 2 3/16 miles on April 19 at Pakenham Racecourse.
The European classic season belatedly starts Monday in France with the French 2000 and French 1000 Guineas, one-mile races usually run around a right-handed turn at Longchamp but moved this year to the straight course at Deauville.
Contrail won Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Derby by an easy three lengths at Tokyo Racecourse to leave the undefeated champion one win away from a sweep of the Japanese Triple Crown.
The champion 2-year-old male of 2019, Contrail won the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas at 1 1/4 miles on April 19 at Nakayama Racecourse by a half-length over Salios. Sunday, Salios (9-2) was second to Contrail, but offered no threat in the final furlong.
