No doubt about Guineas contender

 
No doubt about Guineas contender9 Oct 2020

Not An Option showed his abundant class to successfully open his classic campaign at Matamata this afternoon.

In the Cambridge Stud colours, the colt returned from a break in a blaze of glory to down a competitive age group line-up.

The Tony Pike-trained Not A Single Doubt three-year-old was subsequently a major mover in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas market.

His odds have been slashed and he is now the $4.50 equal favourite for the November 7 feature.

“I’ve always thought he would love a mile and a big track like Riccarton, so we’re on target for the Guineas down there now,” Pike said.

“He will have one more run before we go to Christchurch which will be in the Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa.”

Not An Option won the G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes last season ahead of an Australasian campaign.

He was an encouraging third in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes and sixth in the G1 Champagne Stakes.

He was spelled after failing in the G1 TJ Atkins Stakes and showed the benefit of a break today.

“It’s a little bit unfortunate in that he has probably copped a bad rap for his performances in Australia,” Pike said.

“It wasn’t really his fault as he suffered a bad check in the Champagne Stakes and then nearly went over the running rail in Brisbane.

“He was competitive with the better two-year-olds over there, which takes a pretty good horse to do that, so it’s nice to have him home and winning again.

“He should take a lot of confidence out of that performance.”

From the outside gate Not An Option settled last and finished powerfully down the outside.