A standout in the mounting yard on type at Randwick on Saturday, Farnan colt Nashville Jack has also been an eye-catcher at the recent trials in Sydney and he delivered on potential when resuming from a spell with a stylish win.
Trained by Brad Widdup and ridden by Jason Collett, Nashville Jack had two runs in the autumn in elite company finishing fourth in the Group II ATC Silver Slipper to Beiwacht and then fifth in the Group III Canberra Black Opal Stakes to King of Pop.
With two recent trial wins to tune him up, Nashville Jack powered through along the inside to score a dominant two length win in the 1100m dash over Victorian visitor Hello Romeo.
A $225,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Riversdale draft for his trainer, Nashville Jack runs in the familiar colours of Mulberrry Racing.
“He’s come back controlled and excellent this time through and it’s great to see him return like this,” said Brad Widdup.
“He’s still growing into himself, but has always had natural talent and obviously contested a couple of strong races early on and I was umming and aahing about running today, but when he drew two it made the decision easy.”
Widdup offered no concrete plan for the future, but has plenty of options.
“There are a lot of nice races ahead of us and we can just pick and choose,” he added.
Jason Collett was well pleased with Nashville Jack, taking over from his sister Alysha who rode him in his two previous starts.
“He's a nice horse; he's got a bit of substance to him,” said Jason Collett.
“He trialled really good coming into it and I don't think he minded that soft ground as it’s probably on the worst side of a six.
“It was a good performance. It was quite soft in the end once he got to the front.”
Bred by the late Howard Blight, Nashville Jack is the third winner from three foals to rce from Dixie Chick, a metro winning half-sister by Star Witness to Group II placed Win Dixie and to the dam of Champion Singapore 3YO and 4YO Golden Monkey.
Riversdale sold a Snitzel yearling colt from Dixie Chick at Inglis Easter this year with Mulberry Racing the buyer at $300,000.
Dixie Chick was covered last spring by So You Think after having a year off.
Nashville Jack is the 14th winner for Farnan putting him on top of the first season sires table by winners.
A Golden Slipper winner and Champion 2YO, Farnan stands at Kia Ora Stud at a fee of $77,000 this spring.
