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.
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.
"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.
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.
