The Rosebud is the likely short-term target for emerging colt Nashville Jack after he underlined his class with a strong first-up win in the opening race at Randwick.
Competitive in the Silver Slipper and Black Opal Stakes during a two-start autumn campaign, the Brad Widdup-trained youngster had trialled well coming into Saturday’s Keenland September Yearling Sale Handicap (1100m) and Widdup was relieved to see that translate onto the racetrack.
“He has run in the Silver Slipper and his run was very good in the (Black) Opal when he came in with a shoe sticking halfway up his foot,” Widdup said.
“It’s not easy to do, to come to Randwick against a couple of nice horses today.
“I had him in on Wednesday in a maiden and I was ‘umming and ahhing’ until the last minute this morning. It’s just great to see him come back and return like that.”
Jason Collett settled Nashville Jack ($4.60) midfield in the eight-horse contest and the colt zoomed along the inside in the straight to post a comfortable two length win over Hello Romeo ($13) with Wisnierska ($81) doing her best work late to grab third, another nose away.
Nazwah was sent out a $1.90 favourite and led until the 200m but weakened to finish sixth.
The Listed Rosebud (1100m) is at Rosehill on August 16 and Widdup says it is a logical target for Nashville Jack.
“That’s the obvious, so we will have a look at it for sure and then see what happens from there,” he said.
“There are a lot of nice races ahead of us and we’ll just try to pick and choose.”
Collett was having his first race ride on Nashville Jack and said the rising three-year-old won with something in hand.
“He’s a nice horse. He has got a bit of substance to him,” Collett said.
“He trialled really good coming into it and I don’t think he minded that soft ground. It is probably on the worst side of a six.
“But that was a good performance. It was quite soft in the end once he got to the front.”
By leading first season sire Farnan, Nashville Jack is raced by new Everest slot holders Mulberry and was a $225,000 buy at the Inglis Easter Sale.
