Notnowcato, a 16.1-hand[1] chestnut horse with a narrow, white stripe, was bred by the Rothschild family at their own Southcourt Stud near Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, England.
As a son of the Hungerford Stakes winner Inchinor,[3] he is a representative of the Byerley Turk sire line,[4] unlike more than 95% of modern thoroughbreds, who descend directly from the Darley Arabian.
[12] As a four-year-old, Notnowcato continued his "rapid progress", signalling his arrival at a higher level by winning the Earl of Sefton Stakes on his debut in impressive style.
[14] He finished only fifth in a highly anticipated[15] renewal of the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, but, in being beaten less than two lengths behind proven Group One winners Ouija Board, Electrocutionist, Manduro and David Junior he proved that he was a capable of competing at the highest level.
Taking the lead two furlongs out he showed his ability to "dig deep"[17] by staying on strongly to claim a short-head win over Maraahel, with the odds-on favourite Dylan Thomas in fourth.
Under a strong ride from Johnny Murtagh (who was warned by the stewards for excessive use of the whip) he took up the lead in the straight and stayed on under pressure to hold off Dylan Thomas by a head, with Youmzain four lengths back in third.
[24] The 2007 Eclipse Stakes was expected to be a contest between the 2007 Derby winner Authorized and the Ballydoyle-trained four-year-old George Washington, who had been rated the equal-best horse in Europe in 2006.
[26] Moore was effusive in his praise for the colt, saying "he's got a lot of class and a great heart" and offering his opinion that "our lad proved he is the best mile-and-a-quarter horse in this country".