Heathcote's big three to clash in comebacks

By Glenn Davis

Group 1 winners Rothfire and Startantes will make their comebacks in the Listed Ascot Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday in what could be the first of several clashes during the Queensland Racing Carnival.

Trainer Rob Heathcote also will start talented sprinter Prince Of Boom in a three pronged attack in the 1000-metre feature.

Rothfire has not started since finishing fifth in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes in Perth in November, while Startantes was spelled after beating one runner home in the Group 1 Silver Eagle at Randwick in mid-October.

Rothfire, winner of the Group 1 JJ Atkins as a two-year-old, was a chance of heading overseas for the Group 1 Al Quoz Spring in Dubai in March before plans were aborted after his Winterbottom defeat.

Heathcote won the Al Quoz with former champion sprinter Buffering in 2016.

Heathcote is a 12-time winning trainer at the highest level and is targeting the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap with both Rothfire and Startantes.

Rothfire ran a gallant third in last year’s Stradbroke won by Alligator Blood, while Startantes was an eye-catching fifth.

Before his Winterbottom Stakes run, Rothfire started four times in Melbourne last spring, winning the Group 2 McEwen at Moonee Valley in September and finishing second in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes in October.

Heathcote’s long serving stable foreman Mel Sharpe rates Rothfire the pick of the stable’s trio.

“All three horses are going very well but I like Rothfire because of his first-up record over 1000 metres,” Sharpe said.

“Startantes will run next in The Archer in Rockhampton while Rothfire will go to the Victory Stakes.

“They’ll both have a freshen up after that but it’s going to be hard to keep them apart as they’re both going for the Stradbroke.

“Prince Of Boom also will go to The Victory Stakes before the Doomben 10,000.”

Heathcote won The Archer last year with Emerald Kingdom.

The $775,000 The Archer over 1300 metres will be run on Sunday, April 30, the day after the Group 2 Victory Stakes over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm.

Startantes claimed her first Group 1 in the Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm in June last year but failed in all three Sydney starts last spring.

“Startantes is also going on to the Tatt’s Tiara which she won last year and we’d love to win it for a second time,” Sharpe said.

Mark Du Plessis has taken the ride on Rothfire while apprentice Angela Jones partners Startantes for the first time with Jim Orman booked for Prince Of Boom.