Rothfire lands champion jockey Willo for Rockhampton's $1 million The Archer
Following a runner-up effort last year, elite rider Craig Williams plans another trip to Rockhampton for the $1 million The Archer (1300m) this Sunday, secured to steer Robert Heathcote's Rothfire.
This pairing offers significant appeal to the Rockhampton Jockey Club, marking the fifth year of the slot event.
Williams managed two outings on last year's Rockhampton card, placing second in The Archer with Tony Gollan's Comrade Rosa, and noted his enthusiasm for the return after racing in Adelaide Saturday and Hong Kong Sunday.
"I ran second in the race last year," Williams said.
"I enjoyed my time up there, it's a million-dollar race and I ran second so naturally I want to win it now.
Rothfire, an eight-year-old gelding, matches the highest official rating alongside Lindsay Park's Group One winner Here To Shock, who leads last season's Stradbroke Handicap runner-up Yellow Brick by a single point.
During the previous Stradbroke, Williams piloted Rothfire to seventh place and voiced excitement about rejoining the 'Thriller from Chinchilla'.
"He's going to be one of the best weighted horses in the race," Williams said.
"He's the best rated horse in the race. Whether that means he can win is another thing because it'll be a strong race, but I'm looking forward to the challenge."
The Archer, held with set weights and penalties, assigns Rothfire 57.5kg to carry, while Here To Shock gets 59.5kg from his Group 1 BCD Sprint (1400m) triumph in New Zealand.
Early markets position Rothfire at $6 in the third betting line for The Archer, behind the $4 favorite Yellow Brick.
Visit top online bookmakers to find the best betting markets for the race at Rockhampton.
More Racing News
Karinska seeks redemption in Hawkesbury Guineas post tough loss
Karinska came agonizingly close in the James H B Carr Stakes but now targets a much-needed stakes success in the Group Three Hawkesbury Guineas.Bad luck struck the filly at Randwick, where James McDonald shifted her wide for the bid, just to get bumped inward by winner Snitzel Dancer.She surged late...
Matt Smith anticipates strong run from Way to the stars at Hawkesbury
Sprinter Way To The Stars, who has raced extensively away from home, returns to New South Wales for the first time in over a year, contesting Hawkesbury where handler Matt Smith predicts a forward performance.Boasting two Listed victories, the gelding had valid reasons for underperforming in his previous two efforts:...
Harry's Bar delivers Paul Murray's Wagga Town Plate family milestone
Trainer Paul Murray from Kembla Grange has kept alive his family's impressive link to the Wagga Cup carnival, claiming the $200,000 Town Plate on Harry's Bar.The late Bede Murray, a celebrated trainer from the South Coast, first brought horses to the key rural fixture in the 1970s, consistently departing with...
Bendigo Guineas chance for improving Gold Coast Belle
Reliable filly Gold Coast Belle seeks to secure black-type honours during her appearance in a stakes contest at Bendigo.With three wins and a pair of seconds across her five career runs, Gold Coast Belle takes her place in the Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m) on Saturday.The Bendigo Guineas has proven a...
Berry secures Yellow Brick mount for Rockhampton via McDonald tip
Tommy Berry could credit James McDonald if he notches his initial win in the $1 million The Archer.The ride on Tony and Maddysen Sears' Yellow Brick in Sunday's Rockhampton showcase has gone to Berry, since McDonald, who was originally tapped for it, opted out owing to a prior family trip...
Single Choice carries Cumani's Group 1 hopes into SA Derby
Matt Cumani, the trainer, is fine with the South Australian Derby being contested at a measured pace.On Saturday, Single Choice lines up in the 2518m Group 1 showdown at Morphettville, boasting wins from two of his previous three outings.In the Autumn Classic at Caulfield three runs prior, he took out...
Bendigo Golden Mile sees Von Hauke's second bid under Brown
Cliff Brown, the trainer based in Mornington, is recognised for his patient approach, particularly evident in his handling of Von Hauke.Prior to shifting to Singapore for close to 15 years of operations, Brown achieved notable wins throughout Australia.Back in Australia, he has enjoyed a reliable sequence of successes, including a...
Hawkesbury Gold Cup looms as vital test for returning Sea King
Trainer Matthew Dunn did not originally target the Hawkesbury Gold Cup for Sea King, but he sees it playing a crucial role in the gelding's rehabilitation from tendon trouble.After claiming the 2024 Bendigo Cup, Sea King struggled post a mid-pack finish in his initial run for Dunn in the Christmas...
Pfieffer aiming for stakes repeat with Oh Diamond Lil at Hawkesbury
David Pfieffer is following the successful blueprint from Oh Diamond Lil's spring campaign in his effort to land the attractive mare a further stakes victory in the Hawkesbury Crown.The five-year-old dictated terms wire-to-wire to take the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle on debut back in September, with Pfieffer...
In-form filly Rohesia eyes Adelaide Guineas
Will Hayes is confident that several positive developments have converged to help progressive filly Rohesia rediscover the winning thread.This daughter of Hanseatic has triumphed in her two most recent 1400m assignments, the most recent in stakes grade, leading the team to base her in Adelaide for Saturday's Listed Adelaide Guineas...