Rothfire is set to revisit one of his favourite tracks when he lines up in Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley.

The star Queenslander has a strong record at The Valley’s spring opener. He won the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at this meeting in 2021, before returning the following year to split Imperatriz and Giga Kick in the same race.

Trainer Rob Heathcote is buoyant after Rothfire blitzed a Doomben trial by more than four lengths prior to travelling south. “I gave him a trial last week at Doomben and he was fantastic,” Heathcote said. “He travelled gun-barrel straight up the straight and Martin Harley, a Group 1 jockey in his own right, got off and he said he feels like a three-year-old. He flew down on Thursday night, he travelled brilliantly and he’s settled into the Hayes stables like he’d never left.”

Among the 21 Moir Stakes nominations are defending champion Mornington Glory, Skybird, Queman, Baraqiel, and emerging sprinters Alabama Lass, Niance and Esha.

Rothfire hasn’t been seen in Melbourne since finishing fifth in the 2023 Moir Stakes. He will reacquaint himself with the circuit in a track gallop on Tuesday.

With Ben Melham suspended, Luke Nolen takes over the ride. Nolen has partnered Rothfire once before, in the 2022 Group 1 Champions Sprint, and the Moir will mark his first Group 1 appearance since last year’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. “He is on the comeback trail and he’s coming off a long injury, however, 40 Group 1s do look good on your resume,” Heathcote said of the rider, who only returned last Monday after nine months out with a knee issue.