Cambridge trainer Tony Pike has a few races in consideration for smart two-year-old Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt).
The winner of his only raceday start at Counties, Not An Option won a trial at Cambridge on Tuesday over 800m and looks one of the early lamplighters amongst the juvenile division.
“I was really happy with his trial,” Pike said.
“Obviously, the first time he trialled back in August he was a bit fired up on the speed but won. Then he led on the fence on raceday and didn’t learn a lot so I thought we would ride him in behind the pace on Tuesday.
“He relaxed pretty nicely, almost too well.
“He has become a very relaxed colt, which is good to see going forward.
“He showed a really good turn of foot when he did get clear to win quite comfortably. I was impressed with him.”
The Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham on December 7 is a possible target for the colt by Not A Single Doubt out of Group Two-winning mare Chintz, whom Pike also trained.
“We are going to see how he pulls up. That’s in 10 days’ time which is going to come up quick enough but it looks like a nice race for him at Wellington.
“His short term goal will be the Eclipse Stakes (Gr.2, 1200m) on New Year’s Day into the Karaka Million (RL, 1200m). It is probably just finding a link run that is best suitable in between.”
A $240,000 purchase out of Curraghmore’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock yearling draft, Not An Option was bred by Aquis Farm. -NZ Racing Desk
