Cambridge Stud Celebrate a Flemington Winner

Media Release - Saturday June 17

Not An Option relished the Good 4 surface presented at Flemington on Saturday, with a strong win in the Brian Beattie Handicap (1420m).

It was the sixth career victory for the Mike Moroney-trained gelding who sports the colours of Brendan and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, who race the five-year-old along with a host of prominent trans-Tasman owners.

Not An Option winning  the Brian Beattie Handicap (1420m) at Flemington Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

Given a peach of a ride by Patrick Moloney, Not An Option stalked the speed set by the Ben and JD Hayes-trained stablemates Monarch Of Egypt and Crosshaven before presenting at the right time deep in the straight to score by just over a length.

Not An Option had previously finished 11th in the Gr.1 Goodwood Handicap (1200m) in early May.

“It was just the change of track conditions and a lovely draw,” Moroney said. “We drew well in the Goodwood but he couldn’t handle the ground, it was too wet for him.

“He is up to winning a nice race but hasn’t had a lot of luck at the right time. We have had a crack at some big ones but things haven’t gone his way.

“He won with a bit in hand today and he is certainly a very nice horse.

“He has been up for a little while, I will have a talk with Henry (Plumptre, Cambridge Stud CEO) and Brendan and see where we head. Whether we head to the Winter Championship final or give him a break now.”

The Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) is back at Flemington on July 1.

Advertisement

Winning jockey Patrick Moloney said he had always had a good opinion of Not An Option.

“At one point I thought we were in a spot of bother. We were following the horse to beat in the race and he travelled really well,” Moloney said.

“When the Hayes horses paired off and they were having a duel down the straight I was caught up behind them, but he was able to switch across heels and let down really well.

“He is just a horse that is so much better on top of the ground. He has been racing on Soft 6s and Soft 7s and he travels up really well on the bridle but just lacks the acceleration on it.

“I do think he is blessed with a lot of ability, but he is just better on these firm decks and thankfully today we got another beautifully prepared track at Flemington.”

A son of Not A Single Doubt, Not An Option commenced his career for trainer Tony Pike in New Zealand, for whom he was a Group Two winning juvenile.

Pike went to $240,000 to purchase Not An Option from the draft of Curraghmore at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales.

Not An Option is out of Chintz, whom Pike trained to six wins including the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m), backed up by placings in the Gr.1 Easter Handicap (1600m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Brian Beattie Hcp 1420m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:25.19
1
Not An Option
- 5g Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Chintz (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Patrick Moloney 57.5
2
1.3
Bullfinch
- 6g Kodiac (GB) x Thistle Bird (GB) (Selkirk (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Zac Spain 54.5
3
2.1
Crosshaven
- 5g Smart Missile (AUS) x Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 57.5
4
3.0
Frankie Pinot
- 6g Your Song (AUS) x My Last Fling (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Madison Lloyd 55.5
5
3.2
Our Playboy
- 5g Sebring (AUS) x Mischief Night (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: D Yendall 55
6
3.3
Monarch Of Egypt
- 6g American Pharoah (USA) x Up (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: H Coffey 54
7
3.4
Riddle Me That
- 6g Deep Field (AUS) x Justine Coup (NZ) (Entrepreneur (GB))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 53
7
3.4
Wicklow Town
- 6g Canford Cliffs (IRE) x Afterburn (AUS) (Super Jet (USA))
Tnr: Julie Scott Rdr: W Egan 54.5
9
3.7
Beaufort Park
- 7g Warhead (AUS) x Warlady (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Saab Hasan Rdr: Carleen Hefel 52
10
5.2
Sir Davy
- 5g Street Boss (USA) x Catechuchu (AUS) (Catbird (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: W F Pinn 52.5
More Reading...
Waterford Wins G2 Shannon Stakes
Talented import Waterford (IRE) has long promised to win a stakes race and he did the job in spectacular fashion at Rosehill on Saturday when scoring a dominant win in the $300,000 Group II ATC Shannon Stakes (1500m).
Record-Breaking Weetwood Win To Dundeel’s Tavs
Having not raced since fourth in the Listed BRC Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, the Mark Currie trained Tavs (Dundeel) resumed from a spell to record his first black type victory, winning the Listed Weetwood (1200m) at Toowoomba on Saturday in track record time.
Not An Option Surprises in Hareeba Stakes
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.
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.
Proisir 6YO Waitak Captures Another G1
Saturday's Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa took Waitak past the million-dollar barrier and added another triumphant chapter to his unique Group One record.
Beiwacht Breaks Track Record In G1 Golden Rose Romp
With many of the opinion that Godolphin would provide the winner of this year’s $1m Group 1 ATC Golden Rose (1400m), they were right, but not with the 3yo expected as the Chris Waller trained Bivouac colt Beiwacht was simply sensational in his track record breaking victory.
G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude Victory To Ferivia
Successful in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes two starts back, the Phillip Stokes trained Ferivia secured victory in the Group 2 MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude, becoming the second Group winner in the last 24 hours for the stable after the success of Snow Mercy overnight in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes.
Kiwi Bred Evaporate Wins G3 Sandown Stakes
Smart four-year-old Evaporate bounced back from a setback to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) in gallant fashion, defeating favourite Transatlantic by a nose.
Pedigree Watch – G1 European 2YO
Juveniles took centre stage overnight in the UK and Ireland with a pair of Group I races decided at Newmarket in the Middle Park Stakes (6f) for the colts and Cheveley Park Stakes (6f) for the fillies, while at The Curragh a field of 30 lined up in the Goffs Million, the richest 2YO race in Europe.
Golden Slipper Winner Marhoona Resumes With Heritage Stakes Win
Having not been seen on race day since her success in the Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper (1200m), Champion 2YO Marhoona (Snitzel) put pay to any ‘Golden Slipper hoodoo’ to win the Listed ATC Heritage Stakes (1100m) at her first start at 3.