Rob Heathcote has magic memories of the Group 1 Manikato Stakes and is hoping Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller can help him conjure some more when he jets in to ride evergreen sprint warrior Rothfire.
The 2013 Manikato Stakes was the night Heathcote’s grand champion Buffering finally cracked his Group 1 duck on his 18th attempt.
Buffering went onto win another six Group 1s in a glorious career, including when becoming an international winner in Dubai.
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Friday’s renewal of the weight-for-age Group 1 sprint could potentially be the last time Rothfire contests a Group 1 race – although Heathcote says every time he races it could potentially be his last race.
Disappointed with Luke Nolen’s ride on Rothfire when finishing ninth in the Moir Stakes, Sydney hoop Rawiller takes over the reins in the Manikato Stakes.
Rawiller is no stranger to riding Rothfire, having finished second on him behind Think About It in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in 2023.
Nash Rawiller will partner Rothfire in Friday’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes. Picture: Getty Images
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“Nash Rawiller’s manager called the next day after the Moir and said Nash wants to ride Rothfire, he thinks he can win the Manikato,” Heathcote said.
“Nash ran second in the Stradbroke a few years ago on Rothfire and said he loved the horse.
“It will be a pretty hot Manikato but the way my horse has been galloping has been impressive.
“A couple of really good judges – namely the Hayes boys – were super impressed with the quality of his work.
“Rothfire has been such a bloody good horse and I shudder to think how good he could have been if his career hadn’t have been interrupted with injuries.”
Rothfire is juicy odds in the Manikato but Heathcote says he has put his money where his mouth is and backed his eight-year-old to win.
He said with even luck, Rothfire will be fighting out the finish.
“He’s got it! Buffering got his Group 1.”
On his 18th attempt, the mighty sprinter won his first Group 1 in the 2013 Manikato Stakes 👑
After that, he won 6 more Group 1s, including the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai.
What a warhorse he was 💪 pic.twitter.com/0AnhaySTZ5
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 24, 2024
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Heathcote will walk into Manikato night at The Valley on Friday supercharged with special memories.
“It was the night of nights when Buff won his first Group 1 there in 2013,” Heathcote said.
“He had run second and third in Group 1s before to the likes of Black Caviar and Hay List and Lankan Rupee, but the Manikato was the race when he finally cracked it for a Group 1 win.
“I still drag the old DVD out and we get into it, we watch the race lead-up, we watch the race and then we are all dancing around like idiots.
“One of my mates was there with us that night and his phone got dropped on the ground and everyone was jumping up and down on it.
“We still laugh about it.”