Trainer Rob Heathcote is delighted with the progress of stable stars Rothfire and Abounding ahead of 2024 Brisbane Winter Carnival

Seven-year-old gelding Rothfire won a star-studded 1000m jumpout that included fellow Group 1 champion Antino as well as Zarastro, Give Me Space, Navyonthehighway, Miss Joelene and Comrade Rosa.

“I was delighted with Rothfire and the way he pinged the barriers. He rolled along in front and was strong through the line,” Heathcote said.

“Abounding won her heat as well so I’ll be going into the Winter Carnival with not a lot of bullets in my gun but a couple of serious bullets.”

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Heathcote said it would “more than likely” be the final Winter Carnival for 2020 JJ Atkins champion Rothfire, who last raced in the Magic Millions Buffering (1400m) at Eagle Farm in late December.

“If you were a betting man you’d say this will pull him up but as I’ve said before, I’ll retire Rothfire as soon as I see that the competitive juices are no longer flowing,” Heathcote said.

“He’ll always have that competitive nature but soundness is everything.

“If I feel like he’s not performing because his legs and body won’t allow him to then we’ll pull the pin on him.”

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Rothfire’s career nearly ended in September 2020 when he suffered a severe sesamoid injury during the Group 1 Golden Rose at Rosehill Gardens.

He was set to have a crack at the world’s richest turf race, The Everest, but was forced into a lengthy rehabilitation before returning to the top level in September 2021.

In April last year he developed a badly swollen joint in his leg but managed to recover again and was back racing last December.

Heathcote said he would either resume Rothfire in the Listed Ascot Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm on April 19 or give his old warhorse another trial in a fortnight.

The plan for Rothfire, who has won $3.2 million in prizemoney, is to then compete in the $300,000 Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) on May 3 at Eagle Farm.

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“I’ve got a big decision to make. It depends on how he recovers from this morning,” Heathcote said.

“But I loved that track at Eagle Farm this morning because it still had a bit of juice in it from (the heavy rain in southeast Queensland) last week.

“When he failed in the last prep at Eagle Farm the track was like a road, it was simply too firm. The track this morning was perfect for him.”

Abounding is also on a Victory Stakes path. The four-year-old mare, who has won $2.3m for Heathcote and connections, finished fourth in last year’s Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

Originally published as Trainer Rob Heathcote is delighted with the progress of stable stars Rothfire and Abounding ahead of 2024 Brisbane Winter Carnival