Cambridge Stud Secures Not An Option

 
Cambridge Stud Secures Not An Option18 Dec 2019

Cambridge Stud has secured a majority share in the unbeaten colt Not An Option, the son of leading Australian sire Not A Single Doubt.

An impressive winner of the recent Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr.2), Not An Option will continue to be trained by Tony Pike. “Not An Option is arguably the most naturally gifted juvenile we have had anything to do with. His potential is largely untapped. I am delighted to have Brendan and Jo joining the ownership team, and they have now become an integral part of this horse’s future,” Tony Pike stated.

The existing owners have retained a shareholding in the horse. Including leading stud farms Haunui Farm, Raffles Farm and many of Tony Pike’s long-standing clients.

He has a fantastic sire line being out of Group Two and Group One placed Savabeel mare Chintz, who is out of O’Reilly mare Charmed, who is also the dam of Auckland Cup (Gr.1) winner Chenille. His third dam descending back to high-class racemare Seraphic by Imposing. His sire Not A Single Doubt needs no introduction consistently being one of Australia’s leading sires over a number of seasons and himself by super sire Redoute’s Choice.

Not An Option was purchased by Pike Racing at the 2019 Karaka Yearling Sale for $240,000, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud. “He was an outstanding individual at the sale. He was late in the sale and I was doubtful that I would be able to purchase him. I have to thank the members of the syndicate as he was at the top of my list and I had to convince them to spend a bit more to get him. He has continued to impress as an individual through the early stages of his two-year-old season, and he has a great temperament to match his good looks,” said Pike.

Cambridge Stud CEO, Henry Plumptre, said today “Given the degree of difficulty in purchasing a two-year-old with a similar profile in Australia, we are very pleased to be able to purchase a majority shareholding in a colt like Not An Option. He ticks a lot of boxes as he has a very strong pedigree. His sire is one of the top five stallions in Australia and he is an outstanding individual.”

Not An Option remains unbeaten and showed an electric turn of foot to win the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr.2). His sectionals from that race rating highly breaking 33 seconds for his final 600m. Both trainer Tony Pike and jockey Leith Innes believe that he can be competitive in Group races both in New Zealand and Australia over distances up to a mile.

His immediate racing future will be confirmed over the coming days.