BROWNIE'S BLOG: RACING ENTHUSIASTS STUNNED AS A SERIOUS INJURY PUTS ROTHFIRE ON THE SIDELINES
By Damian Browne | Thursday, October 1, 2020
For all Queensland racing enthusiasts, the terrible news surrounding Rothfire last weekend brought a sobering end to all of the expectations on the day and beyond.
I know when the Rob Heathcote stable had Buffering, who I was involved with, it was the one thing we were always worried about … something happening to the horse … and now for the stable to get another good one and then this injury happens, it’s just heartbreaking.
Horses like Buffering and Rothfire create many good times but also sleepless nights for everybody concerned and, in the case of Rothfire, unfortunately, in the end things did not go according to the script everybody had in mind … and you have to feel for Rob Heathcote and all associated with the horse.
Sadly, the injury is a serious one which will keep Rothfire out for a long time and we may never get to see how good he may have been. The only positive note in an otherwise unhappy story is that Rothfire has had successful surgery and, thankfully, he will be on the mend.
Only time will tell where the Rothfire story goes from here.
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With only a little over two weeks to go for the $15 million The Everest the slots are filling up quickly now.
Looking at the field as it stands … two slots still have to be filled at the time of writing … if I had a horse that I got to choose to ride in the race it would be Classique Legend. He was very good last start and he was a bit unlucky last year in the race … that might have been a year too soon for him.
It has been reported that Les Bridge says Classique Legend is the best horse he has trained and you have got to take notice when guys like Les Bridge are saying something like that.
He is my number one pick and my reasoning is that, while we all know Nature Strip (the current favourite) is a very good horse, he is a little bit one dimensional, I think. If something takes him on or if he misses the kick slightly it could upset his race, so I don’t think he is bullet-proof … whereas I think Classique Legend has got a few more strings to his bow.
He can race a little handier if the pace is slack … which it probably won’t be … and he has got a good turn of foot off the back of a good speed too. Add in the fact that he has got a jockey (Kerrin McEvoy) who knows better than anybody how to win an Everest … and he has a lot going for him.
Nature Strip and Classique Legend are actually due to clash in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. I think that race will determine who will start favourite for The Everest. If Classique Legend beats Nature Strip I think he will move to favourite.
Either way, it will be an intriguing race.
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Plenty of interest at Flemington as well with things changing week to week.
There’s the Turnbull featuring high profile Melbourne Cup candidates with the likes of Surprise Baby and Vow And Declare in the race, amongst others, as well as the Bart Cummings (where the winner goes straight into the Melbourne Cup) … so there is plenty happening.
Last week the current Cup favourite Russian Camelot was outstanding. There is no doubt about that.
He is still a young horse though with a lot to learn and, as far as him being a dominant favourite for the Cups, I would be tending to hang off for the time being.
Having said that he certainly does look like the right horse for those races and he is just another runner showcasing the fact of just what a good trainer Danny O’Brien is.
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Jockeys are ‘jockeying’ up for big race rides already.
It is very rarely you see a jockey jump off a horse that he won last year’s Melbourne Cup on and take another ride … but that is just what Craig Williams has done, going for Surprise Baby instead of Vow And Declare.
Similarly, Michael Walker declined the ride on the Charlie Fellowes trained Prince Of Arran this time around after teaming up with the international raider for the past two years.
I actually talked to Michael shortly after he made that decision and he said he hadn’t slept for about three days because it was one of the hardest decisions that he has ever had to make.
After being notified of Walker’s decision to opt instead for Dashing Willoughby, Fellowes put up a tweet, asking, ‘I am looking for a jockey! Anyone want to ride the horse that’s placed in the last 2 Melbourne Cups. Also needed for the Caulfield Cup!’
I nearly wanted to answer it and put my hand up … but I didn’t.
They are now going to name a rider for Prince Of Arran on the weekend. There are plenty of good riders around so they won’t be short of options.
Its’ the same with Vow And Declare. Craig has jumped off him but there is none better than Ollie jumping on.
In this type of situation one person’s loss can be another person’s gain … although no jockey knows before-hand which way the dice will fall!
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With or without the crowds the Melbourne Cup is going to be as good a race as it has been in any year.
Those overseas horses being able to get here under Covid protocols … which we have always taken for granted before … has been a bonus.
The number of internationals making the trip and international interest in the race once again underlines the outright international stature of the Melbourne Cup.
A lot of that interest is, of course, based on the fact that the big races overseas … all around the world … are 2000m and beyond which brings the Melbourne Cup into that fold.
Tradition certainly plays its part as well.
When you have a race that has enjoyed such a positive profile in Australian racing history for so long, it is always a big plus!
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