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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Tim Clark figures his TAB Everest mount Rothfire has to improve about three lengths on his first-up run to be able to win the $15m feature in two weeks.

Jockey Tim Clark (Pic: Bradley Photos)

With that in mind he’s very interested to see how much ground the exciting four-year-old has made up in his Everest dry run in Saturday’s Group 2 $500,000 ACY Securities Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

After Rothfire ran fourth in the Shorts over 1100m, run in deteriorating ground, Clark recommended to trainer Robert Heathcote that the gelding would benefit from another run under race conditions rather than a trial given he’d only raced once in 12 months.

“I thought he just needs a bit of match practice, he hadn’t raced for a long time and it’d be nice if he could have another hitout which will bring him on a bit more,'' Clark said.

“Nature Strip beat him home three lengths so he has to bridge that gap. So with another run under his belt he might just be able to do that.

“You need to be pretty hardened to be winning an Everest, I know there are a couple going into it first-up this year so that’s another interesting factor, and I felt it’d be nice to have another ride on him.

“And to see if he has made the improvement that is required to have him fighting out the finish.”

All that said, Clark was rapt with Rothfire’s performance.

He chased a solid speed set by Eduardo and Nature Strip and he worked into the race early in the straight like he could put himself in the finish but suffered a case of spinning wheels when the pressure went right on.

Clark said a good portion of that can be put down to lacking the match practice needed to handle conditions that were a lot more trying than expected.

“I liked how he kept battling on late,’’ he said.

“At the 100m or 150m he’d peaked on his run and I just liked how he continued to stick his neck out and get to the line even though he was probably getting a bit tired.

“Fitness wise it will help him, even if it does end up being a bit wet on Everest day. Horses always get tired quicker on softer ground so he needs to get his fitness levels up a bit.”

Rothfire, who runs in the James Kennedy slot in the TAB Everest, was $3.30 with TAB in the premiere on Thursday and $9 in the Everest all-in market.

After a treble at Rosehill last weekend, including the Group 1 Golden Rose on In The Congo, Clark is hoping to keep the momentum going as Everest Carnival moves into its third weekend.

The TAB markets suggest last week’s Colin Stephen winner Entente is Clark’s best chance of another Group 1 win in the $750,000 Heineken Metropolitan (2400m).

Clark is yet to win a Metropolitan but Gai Waterhouse, who co-trains Entente with Adrian Bott, has won eight of them and the jockey said last week’s win was strong and with weight relief he has to be given some respect.

“The pace of the race meant we were a bit further back than anticipated but he relaxes well and he gives himself a chance wherever he is in the run,’’ he said.

“He’s got to do it again, three weeks in a row is no easy task, but he drops the 4kg and he’s got to be a good lightweight chance.”

Rothfire runs fourth in The Shorts at Randwick on September 18

Tim Clark’s comments on some of his other rides:

Swift Witness (Darley Flight): “I’ve been happy with every run she’s put in this prep. I feel she will handle the mile no worries and will adapt to the tempo well. She did a bit of work the other day which probably just told late. The mile start is a great start at Randwick and she’s going to roll forward and find a position. She’s going to give a very bold sight.”

Victory Moments (Breeders’ Plate): “He had an advantage because he’d already had a trial. But to overcome a few troubles early in that trial and not lose focus and pick up and go past them so quickly I thought he did it extremely well. He showed maturity beyond his years, he ran the time as well, he’s a strong individual and I think he has plenty of upside. He couldn’t have impressed me any more than what he did.”

Pantonario (Gimcrack Stakes): “She trialled well, early on in the first few trials it was hard to be in the finish if you weren’t on the fence. That’s probably just an experience thing, if they have a fence to follow it can make their job a lot easier. She had to do a bit of work early, just her condition gave out late and she was chasing one who'd had a trial. She’s come up with a soft draw, so if she can take a bit of improvement out of the trial she will run well but they’ve all got to beat Coolangatta.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's TAB Epsom meeting at Randwick