"HE'S RUNNING AROUND IN THE PADDOCK LIKE A THREE-YEAR-OLD." ROTHFIRE TO EXTEND HIS CAMPAIGN

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Trainer Robert Heathcote has confirmed that Rothfire, the $2 million Sydney Stakes winner at Randwick on Saturday, will have his next start in Sydney in the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes over 1300m at Randwick on November 1.

The eight-year-old reached a career peak in the Sydney Stakes win on Everest day and has pulled up more than well enough for Heathcote and the ownership group to move the goalposts and give the son of Rothesay another run before sending him out for a spell.

That well-earned break from race action was originally pencilled in to take place after the Sydney Stakes, but Rothfire’s stellar performance there and his positive post-race recovery suggested that it was not necessary to give him time out at this stage.

That is when the paddock option blurred and the Russell Balding came into focus.

The result of last year’s Russell Balding shows that it was won by Bella Nipotina, who had saluted in the Everest two weeks earlier. Two other runners who contested the 2024 edition of The Everest … Sunshine In Paris and Private Eye … also went straight into the Russell Balding.

While the 2025 Everest winner, Ka Ying Rising, will not be there, the chances of at least a couple of horses who took part in the $20 million race lining up in the Russell Baldwin are good some will be looking for a ‘consolation’ prize on November 1.

That should mean it will be a hotly contested race, but that won’t faze Heathcote who, as he did with his previous champion Buffering, has never been shy to test his best against the best.

And Heathcote could not be happier with his eight-year-old charge right now.

“I’ve sent Rothfire down to Lindsay Park and he is running around in the paddock like a three-year-old,” enthused Heathcote.

“He’s a very happy horse.”

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