Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is confident he can figure in the thick end of the prizemoney in a Queensland stakes race for the second weekend in succession.
The stable was represented by dominant Listed Tattersall’s Life Member Stakes (1830m) winner Tutukaka (NZ) (Tavistock at Eagle Farm last Saturday, and Pike is expecting a good showing from talented three-year-old Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt) in Saturday’s Gr.3 Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast.
The Not A Single Doubt colt disappointed when 11th in the Gr.3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm in late May and Pike has deliberately given the Eagle Farm track a wide berth with the colt before taking aim again.
“I think he can bounce back to form. I’m just putting that last run down to the Eagle Farm track, he trialled brilliantly at the Gold Coast last Tuesday,” Pike said.
“Michael Cahill galloped him this morning and he felt sensational.
“After a great first-up run we’re just putting it down to the Eagle Farm track, it tripped up a lot of horses this carnival. We can’t fault the way he is going.
“We’re expecting a much-improved performance and it wouldn’t surprise if he is winning on Saturday.”
Not An Option has only run once at 1600m when running a solid sixth in the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes as a juvenile but Pike believes the horse will be suited by the step up in distance.
“His pedigree suggests at a mile and probably further should be right up his alley. With that trial under his belt at the Gold Coast it should be perfect.”
Pike has enjoyed a good association with Queensland rider Michael Cahill over the years and he is booked to ride Not An Option on Saturday in a race both trainer and rider combined to win previously with The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) in 2018, before returning the following year to land the Group One double of the Doomben Ten Thousand (1200m) and Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m).
A $240,000 purchase out of Curraghmore’s draft, Not An Option was bred by Aquis Farm. - NZ Racing Desk
