Options impressive again

Options indicated he is a promising staying three-year-old with a powerful win at Bendigo on Sunday, September 7.

Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy for Godolphin, Options came from last to score in the Bendigo Mazda Benchmark 62 Handicap (1600m).

Ridden by Harry Coffey, the colt was a little slow to jump and settled near last on the inside in the early stages.

Coffey angled him into the running line past the 800-metre mark and Options ($6) loomed up to challenge, then dashed away to score by 3-1/4 lengths from Budjik Boy ($6.50) with His Finest Hour ($3.90 fav) a length away third.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy said Options had been very good in winning.

He is a lovely style of horse,” McEvoy said.

“Physically, there would not be a nicer looking horse in the stable.

“He did a good job at Echuca last start, had no race smarts about him but managed to get the job done.

“We elected to give him a jump out between runs, with a barrier blanket on to try and get him to jump a bit better which he did in the jump out. Today, again he was a little bit slow.

“Harry (Coffey) knows the horse well.

“We have switched him to our Flemington stables and noticed how he has switched on in his work.

“He presented here beautifully, and the team has done a great job.

“He ran up to his looks today and we would expect he would get further, and hopefully to a better level.

“There is an 1800 metre preview race at Flemington, and we will consider going there. I think he will love Flemington and will relish getting out over more ground.

“We apprentice the support from Godolphin, and it is nice to have another winner for the team.”

Winning jockey Harry Coffey is excited about Options’ potential.

“He made things a little bit tricky early, he didn’t jump that well,” Coffey said.

“We got pushed down to the fence early, but I was lucky enough to get off into the moving line and follow the right horses forward and around the bend.

“He took a while to get up and going but his last 200 (metres) was really strong.

“He was really good through the line, and he is giving me the feeling that a little bit further will be even better.

“He is getting the job done on wet ground, but I think he will be just as good on firmer surfaces.”