Rothfire ready for Sydney

Trainer Rob Heathcote is confident that his stable star Rothfire (Rothesay) is ready to measure up to the best 3-year-olds in the country after he galloped in style on Saturday.

Rothfire had an exhibition gallop at Eagle Farm and ran a blistering last 600 metre time of 32.00 seconds and last 400 metres in 20.7s.

“Over the next month we are going to sort the pecking order out and I think that’s the excitement of going into this spring, the pecking order hasn’t been sorted out yet,” he told Racenet.

Asked about Gai Waterhouse's comment that her Golden Slipper winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) won't be beaten this campaign, Heathcote said he was confident Rothfire could test that colt.

“There’s no doubt, Farnan has been unbelievably impressive. Two super trials, there’s no denying that, he’s got the runs on the board with the Golden Slipper and five from six. He’s certainly going to be hard to beat.

“When Gai makes a comment like that, as she’s known to at times, she’s never usually far off the mark. So enormous respect for Farnan, but they will know my little fellow is there.”

Feehan first for Surprise Baby

Leading spring hope Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking) is set to resume on Saturday's G2 Feehan S.

Surprise Baby, a winner of five of his 11 starts, including a G2 Adelaide Cup and G2 Bart Cummings hasn't started since finishing fifth in the G1 Melbourne Cup last November.

Trainer Paul Preusker resumed him with a fourth in the Feehan S. last year and will take a similar path in 2020.

"We are not tippy toeing on egg-shells," Preusker told Racing.com. "We know what he can do and where he’s got to be and we’ve got him there.

"I’ve been pretty mindful that last prep was his first prep so we’ve been happy to take our time, but yeah it has been a long wait. Let’s hope I’ve got it right."

Hyeronimus appeal date set

The appeal by jockey Adam Hyeronimus over his three-year ban for betting will be heard on September 21 and 22.

Racing NSW stewards issued lengthy penalties against Hyeronimus and his cousin, licensed stablehand Blake Paine, after they were found guilty of 30 of the 31 betting charges laid against them.

They were also found guilty of a charge for giving false and misleading evidence during the stewards’ investigation, which dated back to 2019.

Racing NSW has confirmed the appeal against the charges and penalties will be heard by its appeal panel next month.

Meanwhile, leading apprentice Tom Sherry has had his penalty from a running and handling charge from Weeing in July reduced slightly to three weeks.

Sherry was initially handed a four-week penalty after the deemed his ride aboard Al Snip (Al Maher) 'fell short of the reasonable standard expected' when finishing sixth.

Walker stripped of race after weighing in light

Group-1 winning jockey Michael Walker could be set for a suspension after he weighed in light aboard a winner at Sale on Sunday.

Walker's mount Excelman (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) was disqualified after the rider weighed in one kilogram light.

Excelman easily won the Sale Water Specialists BM64 but stewards disqualified the Richard Laming-trained horse with the Bruce Purcell-trained Extending (Needs Further) granted the race.

Stewards adjourned an inquiry into the incident.

Vale Ray Cleaver

Australian Trainers' Association President, Robbie Griffiths, was among those to pay tribute to respected Cranbourne trainer Ray Cleaver.

Cleaver passed away on Saturday after suffering a stroke.

"It comes as a bit of shock really," Griffiths told Racing.com ‘’He was a bit of a larrikin – a loveable rogue around Cranbourne. He had a small team in recent years but always did well with his horses.

"When he first came down to Cranbourne he had a more sizeable stable with horses like Honest Politician and Dot Com, but his team had gotten a bit thinner since then.

"It’s certainly a sad day for all of us at Cranbourne to lose such a respected horseman like Ray."

Princess ready to resume

Princess Kereru (NZ) (Pins) is ready for her first-up assignment in the G2 Valachi Downs Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa this coming Saturday after a hitout at Tauranga on Saturday.

The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained mare has improved substantially over the past couple of weeks and is ready to resume according to Ken Kelso.

“We’ve given her the two exhibition gallops and a trial to get her ready and she’s pretty forward for the Foxbridge,” he said.

“She worked nicely at Tauranga over the 1000 metres with Sherwood Forest.

“She was actually supposed to follow him and Loire but when Loire held them up and wouldn’t go, we went with Sherwood Forest instead.

“We’re happy with her and safely through Te Rapa she will then go to the Tarzino Trophy at Hastings.”

Ramsamy gets debut NZ winner

Former champion South African apprentice Kersley Ramsamy celebrated his first win in New Zealand aboard Sheza Jakkal (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) on Saturday.

The Mauritian-born rider recently moved to Te Aroha after initially being based in the South Island and was rapt to have got a breakthrough win.

"New Zealand racing is a little different to what I know back at home as the tracks are bigger and roomier and more like South Africa," he said.

“I do enjoy it here and I’m looking forward to riding more winners now I have got my first one under my belt.”

It was the first success of a partnership with Te Aroha local Gavin Opie.

“He’s been here about a month now and turns up at six o’clock every morning to ride work for me and then he does a few for the other locals," Opie said.

“He’s a good young fella who deserves a break so I was pleased to give him the ride as she (Sheza Jakkal) goes really well for him in trackwork.

“No-one could have ridden her any better on Saturday as he put her in the gap at the right time, kicked her out hands and heels and really looked the part.”