Not An Option Surprises in Hareeba Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday March 26

After 76 weeks in the wilderness, Brendan and Jo Lindsay's Not A Single Doubt gelding Not An Option was back in the winner's stall following Saturday's Listed Hareeba stakes at Mornington.

He's back but too late to save his manhood (image Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

He's back but too late to save his manhood (image Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

The outsider of the field, the Mike Moroney trained son of Not A Single Doubt defeated  Superium by a length with Chassis a further one and a quarter length back in third.

Purchased as a potential stallion prospect after winning the Group II Wakefield Challenge Stakes at two, Not An Option was gelded after losing form.

"It was the right decision and a big decision by the owners," stable representative Glen Thompson said.

"They paid a bit of money for him as a stallion prospect, but he lost it a bit, and it looks like it's going to pay a dividend.

Winning rider Patrick Moloney also believes gelding will be the making of the 4yo.

"The ultimate gear change, I suppose. He only had one run for Mike prior to today and I rode him," Moloney said.

"He was a colt that day and he went around like a lad. He had a nice run, but didn't want to let down for me. It was good enough for the owners to bite the bullet and geld him and he's come back a much more rounded animal.

Not An Option (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Not An Option (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

"He gave me a lovely ride throughout. Relaxed, presented him down the Racecourse Road side, and he was up to the task.

"I think he's going to be a horse that only improves when he gets out to 1400 and a mile. Today he was quite brilliant and he had trialled up like that leading up to today."

Pike Racing shelled out $240,000 for the son of Not A Single Doubt from the Curraghmore draft at Karaka in 2019.

Bred by Aquis Farm, Not An Option is the best of two winners from as many to race out of the top-class mare Chintz.

Not An Option a $240,000 Karaka yearling

Not An Option a $240,000 Karaka yearling

The daughter of Savabeel won the Group II ARC Rich Hill Mile and was runner-up in the Group 1 Easter Hcp and third in the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes.

Cunningham Thoroughbreds/Clarke Bloodstock bought Chintz for $235,000 at the 2021 Inglis September (Early) Online Sale.

A half-sister to Group 1 winning mare Chenille and a 7/8 sister to dual Group 1 winner Mo'unga, Chintz was covered by King's Legacy last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Neds Hareeba Stakes LR 1200m

Mornington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:10.38
1
Not An Option
- 4g Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Chintz (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Patrick Moloney 54
2
1.0
Superium
- 5g Verrazano (USA) x Rosie's Halo (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Damien Thornton 54
3
2.3
Chassis
- 5m Al Maher (AUS) x Poco Gusto (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M J Dee 54
4
4.0
Sansom
- 5g Charm Spirit (IRE) x Bryony (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Ben Allen 56.5
5
5.0
Maritana
- 6g Kuroshio (AUS) x Besant (AUS) (Bianconi (USA))
Tnr: J R Welsh Rdr: Carleen Hefel 54
6
5.3
Hightail
- 5g Written Tycoon (AUS) x La Paris (AUS) (Falvelon (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Craig Williams 54
7
5.4
Signore Fox
- 6h Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Sharp Susan (USA) (Touch Gold (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: D Oliver 59
8
8.4
Vainstream
- 7g Bel Esprit (AUS) x Yasey San (AUS) (Yasey (JPN))
Tnr: John Pascoe Rdr: B Mc Dougall 54
9
8.5
Award Winner
- 4m Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Circe (AUS) (Medaglia D'Oro (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Ms L J Meech 54
More Reading...
Broadsiding's Brilliant Return
Superstar three-year-old Broadsiding was back with a bang in a brilliant return effort to win the Group II Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
Kiwi Bred Jimmy Shines Brightly in Oakleigh Plate
Former Kiwi galloper Jimmysstar scored a stunning win in the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday under a brilliant Ethan Brown ride.
Sires With Winners - Friday February 21
Here is the full list of 63 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cambridge Stud Celebrate a Flemington Winner
Not An Option relished the Good 4 surface presented at Flemington on Saturday, with a strong win in the Brian Beattie Handicap (1420m).
$1.4million Extreme Choice Colt Wins G1 Blue Diamond
The $2million Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) looked an open affair on paper with the potential for an up and comer to take the prize and so it unfolded with the most expensive yearling purchase in the race delivering victory for Yulong as a maiden at just his second start.
Second Stakes Winner for First Season Bivouac in G2 Silver Slipper
The majority expected a first season sire to win the Group II Silver Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday, it just wasn’t expected to be Bivouac, but that’s the way it played out with Beiwacht scoring an impressive win and getting his ticket to the Golden Slipper.
Queensland an option for Kiwi galloper
A Group One assignment in Queensland is in the offing for talented three-year-old Not An Option if he performs well at Randwick on Saturday.
G2 Winner for Satono Aladdin
Smart Kiwi four-year-old mare Firestorm snared a well-deserved Group Two victory when getting the better of her rivals in the Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Another Spirit of Boom 2YO SW for Lindsay Park
The Lindsay Park racing team already have one juvenile stakes-winner in the stable this season by Spirit of Boom in Shining Smile and now they have another with promising filly Gin Spirit taking out the Listed SAJC Cinderella Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Proisir Mare Hits Top Form in G3 Mannerism
Coeur Volante delivered a commanding performance at Caulfield on Saturday, securing her third Stakes victory in the Gr.3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) under the guidance of jockey Blake Shinn.