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As Rob Heathcote ponders an international campaign with Rothfire, one of the longest droughts experienced by his stable with a former star could end at Doomben on Saturday.
Rothfire, a Luke Nolen mount, is set to clash with the world's best sprinter Nature Strip and The Everest winner Giga Kick in the Group 1 Darley Champions Sprint at Flemington.
While back home in Brisbane, Guntantes will be looking to end a three-year losing streak in the Class 6 Plate over 1350 metres.
Robert Heathcote has booked a flight to Perth for Rothfire to tackle the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes on November 26 after which a decision will be made whether he heads to Dubai for the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint.
Heathcote's former champion sprinter Buffering won the international feature in 2016.
"Dubai depends on how Rothfire goes up the straight at Flemington," Heathcote said.
"He has to tick the box of handling it and I'm confident he will.
"His run in the Manikato shows he's going good."
Meanwhile, Heathcote is hopeful Guntantes can break through for his first win since claiming a three-year-old race in December, 2019.
Guntantes will be third-up after making his return with a fast finishing sixth to the Tony Gollan -trained Le Palmier in an unsuitable 1000 metre Class 6 at Eagle Farm on October 8.
That run was prior to a third placed effort in a Class 6 over 1200 metres at Doomben on October 22.
