The Sydney “Spring Carnival” hits full stride this Friday night, with the $1,000,000 Golden Rose showcasing an exciting field of newly-turned 3-year-olds. The Golden Rose is the first 3-year-old Group 1 race of the Australian season, which began in August. The seven furlong contest at Rosehill is a ringing endorsement of stud potential but, more imminently, is a worthy guide to The Everest three weeks later, at Randwick.
Last year's Golden Rose runner-up, Yes Yes Yes, went on to win The Everest, the world's richest turf race which was inaugurated a mere three years ago. And last year's Golden Rose winner, Bivouac, is prominent in Everest future-book wagering after a promising 4-year-old debut last weekend. The Everest might include two Golden Rose winners, as this Friday's hot favorite, Rothfire, has already booked an Everest starting berth (under the race's slot-purchase format).
Rothfire comes from humble beginnings in my home state of Queensland. He was bred in the small town of Chinchilla – known as the melon capital of Australia – and early attempts to sell the yearling bore no fruit. He was eventually offered for $10,000 to leading Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote, who accepted, but the money was irretrievably lost to Nigeria in an online “phishing” scam, forcing a double payment. Even at $20,000, Heathcote has a bargain buy that quickly drew comparisons with his topline sprinter Buffering, winner of the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night four years ago. Indeed, Heathcote has stated that Rothfire “can take me around the world.”
The gelding boasts seven wins from eight starts. In the first five victories, he was on the pace throughout. However, in his two most recent and significant wins – a season-ending G1 in Brisbane at his only seven furlong test, and the traditional lead-up to the Golden Rose in his seasonal and Sydney debut – Rothfire showed he's not just a spitfire by coming from behind the leader. His regular rider, Jim Byrne, is a veteran of Queensland racing (Byrne and Heathcote have won five Brisbane riding and training titles, respectively). Due to coronavirus quarantine protocols, Byrne is basing himself in Sydney for the duration of Rothfire's campaign. He is doubtless sacrificing numerous hometown winners, which will be more than compensated for should Rothfire (even-money favorite) triumph in Friday's Golden Rose then ascend to The Everest.
Rothfire's main competition on Friday is expected to come from horses who finished behind him last start, but who will appreciate the step up to seven furlongs and have been trained to peak for the Golden Rose. Ole Kirk (8-1), named for the inventor of Lego, can use his seasonal debut placing as a building block. His dam is a full sister to Black Caviar, and Ole Kirk shares some common ownership with the superstar mare who retired undefeated in 25 starts. Stablemate North Pacific (9-2) had two impressive wins – albeit on “heavy” tracks – before finishing third behind Rothfire and Ole Kirk. It is a testament to the remarkable democracy of horse racing that these $675,000 and $800,000 colts are likely to again play second fiddle to a $10,000 gelding nicknamed the “Thrilla from Chinchilla.”
If trying to beat Rothfire, I recommend considering a pair at double-digit odds: Mamaragan (13-1) has the rare distinction of placing in the world's richest 2-year-old race, the Golden Slipper, at just his second career start. King's Legacy (15-1) is a Group One winner at seven furlongs in Sydney and is 2-for-2 when second up. Both longshots have license to improve sharply off their latest unplaced efforts behind Rothfire.
The Rosehill card also includes the Shannon Stakes (G2) and Pendant (G2) which will be broadcast live on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 10:25 p.m. ET / 8:25 p.m. PT) alongside cards from Kembla Grange, Toowoomba and Gold Coast. All races will be live-streamed in HD on skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, AmWager, and BetAmerica. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.
A native of Brisbane, Australia, Michael Wrona has called races in six countries. Michael's vast U.S. experience includes; race calling at Los Alamitos, Hollywood Park, Arlington and Santa Anita, calling the 2000 Preakness on a national radio network and the 2016 Breeders' Cup on the International simulcast network. Michael also performed a race call voiceover for a Seinfeld episode called The Subway.
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