After securing second place in the previous edition, top jockey Craig Williams is set to return to Rockhampton for Sunday’s $1 million The Archer (1300m), with a booking on Robert Heathcote’s Rothfire.

The combination of this horse and jockey represents a major attraction for the Rockhampton Jockey Club as the slot race reaches its fifth edition.

Last year, Williams had a couple of mounts on the Rockhampton program, achieving runner-up status in The Archer on Tony Gollan’s Comrade Rosa, and he mentioned his eagerness to return following commitments in Adelaide on Saturday and Hong Kong on Sunday.

“I ran second in the race last year,” Williams said.

“I enjoyed my time up there, it’s a million-dollar race and I ran second so naturally I want to win it now.

The eight-year-old gelding Rothfire shares the top official rating with Lindsay Park’s Group One victor Here To Shock, who edges out last year’s Stradbroke Handicap placegetter Yellow Brick by one point.

Williams was aboard Rothfire during last year’s Stradbroke where they finished seventh, and he expressed anticipation about teaming up again with the ‘Thriller from Chinchilla’.

“He’s going to be one of the best weighted horses in the race,” Williams said.

“He’s the best rated horse in the race. Whether that means he can win is another thing because it’ll be a strong race, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Conducted under set weights and penalties, The Archer requires Rothfire to shoulder 57.5kg, whereas Here To Shock must carry 59.5kg due to his success in New Zealand’s Group 1 BCD Sprint (1400m).

In initial betting for The Archer, Rothfire is listed at $6 on the third line of markets, trailing Yellow Brick at $4.

Explore the Australian betting sites for competitive racing odds on The Archer this Sunday.