Epsom Countdown Begins For Rothera
- Thursday, 25 August 2011 05:45
A decision not to roll the dice during the Brisbane winter carnival could pay off in the spring for connections of Rothera who makes his comeback at Doomben on Saturday.
Trainer Ben Currie has pencilled in an ambitious program for Rothera who will be ridden by former Melbourne apprentice Jarrod Fry in Saturday's Channel Seven Brisbane Handicap (1200m).
Currie is aiming Rothera for the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 1 and hasn't ruled out extending his campaign to Melbourne for the Group One Caulfield Cup (2400m) or Flemington's Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m).
"At this stage we're looking at the Epsom with him and after this run he'll go to Sydney and run in the Bill Ritchie," Currie said.
"So long as he runs well in the Epsom he may go back to Melbourne.
"It's a bit of a dream to get there but I've always thought he's looking for longer and it would be a thrill to have a Caulfield Cup runner, especially if the track is wet.
"If he doesn't go for the Caulfield Cup he'll probably be set for the Emirates."
Rothera rocketed Currie into prominence when the gelding won the Group Three Betfair Stakes on a heavy track at Caulfield last October.
Currie was tempted to send Rothera to Sydney for an autumn campaign following his last-start win in the Listed Tattersall's Member's Cup (1600m) at Eagle Farm in March.
However, he resisted the temptation to concentrate on the winter carnival but then had second thoughts about competing during the winter months.
"He wasn't quite right for some reason last campaign," Currie, who is in his final year of a university journalism degree, said.
"I don't think he quite got over his campaign in Melbourne but we were looking at taking him to Sydney for the Ranvet in the autumn.
"When he pulled up a little sore after his Member's Cup win we decided to spell him and look at the spring with him.
"We were planning to run him in the Hollindale Stakes duringthe Brisbane winter carnival but you can't run them if they're not right."
Toowoomba-based Currie floated Rothera to Brisbane for an 800-metre barrier trial at Eagle Farm two weeks ago and wasn't disappointed when he ran last in the five-horse field.
"He's not a flash trackworker at the best of times but he needed to have a trial," Currie said.
"He's been in work for three months and he should race well especially if we get a wet track.
"I'm not sure if he can win but I'll be very happy to see him hit the line well."
