Doomben 10,000 (Group 1)

THE enigmatic eight-year-old galloper Rothfire, with veteran jockey Brad Rawiller up, wound back the clock to produce his brilliant best at Doomben on Saturday, claiming an emotional hometown win in the A$1.5 million Group 1 Doomben 10,000 over 1,200 metres.

Trained across the road at Eagle Farm by Robert Heathcote, it’s been six years since the Rothesay gelding won his first Group 1 in the JJ Atkins for juveniles at Eagle Farm, since which, he has been a model of consistency winning 12 times and placing on 10 occasions in 43 starts to earn over A$5.8 million in stakes.

“I thought the (Group 3) Sydney Stakes (in October) was the pinnacle, but this tops it,” said Heathcote. “To win this race, at home, in front of my family and such a huge crowd – it’s super.

“He’s been an absolute trooper for Queensland. We’ve dealt with several severe injuries along the way but he always comes back. This my first Group 1 since Startantes won the Tatt’s Tiara in 2022. I was also here on Black Caviar Day and that was amazing but for Rothfire to do what he has done today means the world to me.”

Out of trouble

Sent out at generous 60/1, Rothfire was kept out of trouble by Rawiller before working into the race six-wide on the bend. Cruising into the race, Rothfire collared the leaders with 100m remaining to surge away and win by a length. Second was the Justify filly Spicy Martini who held the Wootton Bassett colt Napoleonic to third.

“We’re two iron men, me and the horse,” said 47-year-old Rawiller. “It was D-Day for both of us. I knew if he got the right run, he’d give a big kick, and he did. I didn’t want to get into a speed battle because that would have been game over.

“I sat three and four-wide because it was better ground out there. He was picking up before the turn and, with older horses, you just need to give them that little bit of confidence.

“I knew the trainer had done his job and I knew the horse would keep giving because he’s a fighter. That made me think we might be on here today.”

Rothfire will start next in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup at Eagle Farm on May 30th which Robert Heathcote indicated could be his final start.

THE Super Seth gelding Kilman is into the third line of betting for the Queensland Derby (Group 1, May 30th) following his impressive win in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate over Doomben’s 2,000 metres.

Trained by Chris Waller, Kilman was rated perfectly by Ryan Maloney to lead all the way to defy his price of 25/1, making it a fourth straight win in the race for the stable.

“He’s made a lot of physical progression,” said Waller of the A$360,000 Gold Coast Magic Million purchase.

“He ran well in the Carbine Club (second) and Queensland Guineas (fourth), and he was excellent again today.”

Second in the race was the Pierro gelding Beauty Swift who just shaded the winner’s stablemate, the Wootton Bassett colt Providence.

“He’ll definitely relax well enough to get the 2,400 metres of the Derby. He switched off beautifully for me today,” said Maloney.

THE Grahame Begg-trained Zakouma has earned a ballot-free entry to the Melbourne Cup following his win in the Listed Andrew Ramsden over 2,800 metres at Flemington on Saturday.

Six lengths from the leaders with 300 metres remaining, the Crowded House five-year-old gelding finished powerfully to overwhelm his rivals and post a three-quarter-length margin. The Exceed And Excel gelding Pounding was second just ahead of the French-bred Churchill gelding Sir Chartwell.

“Full credit to the horse, he beat the weight scale today with his rating,” said Begg of his pre-race 78-rated Zakouma. “This horse is a true staying horse. We’ll tailor (his spring campaign) around getting him here, fit and well, on the first Tuesday in November. It’s very exciting.”

Should Zakouma make the start of the Cup it will be 65-year-old Begg’s first Cup runner. He won this race, the Andrew Ramsden, with Lunar Flare in 2023 but she was withdrawn on Cup eve by stewards on veterinary advice.

Japan

Victoria Mile (Group 1)

EMBROIDERY went off a strong favourite and dominated this year’s Victoria Mile, capturing her third Group 1 win.

The daughter of Admire Mars had won the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and the Shuka Sho – which earned her top three-year-old filly title last season. Trainer Kazutomo Mori scored his third JRA-Group 1 win, all with this filly, while jockey Christophe Lemaire extended his record for the most Victoria Mile victories to five. He also celebrated the milestone of a 60th JRA-Group 1 title.

Four-year-old Embroidery, breaking sharply from stall 12, eased back to settle around sixth behind front-runner Erika Express. Racing wide around the bends, she improved steadily in the early stretch and, after taking the lead at the furlong marker, accelerated strongly and pulled away for a comfortable length-and-a-quarter victory.

“It was a perfect race. She responded really well on the uphill stretch, and I was confident we could win again. She’s a smart horse with a strong mentality, and she’s developing physically as well – she’s truly a Grade 1-calibre horse. I think she can compete both in Japan and overseas,” jockey Christophe Lemaire told media.