Nashville has confirmed his status as racing latest rising star with a brilliant victory in the G2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile at Riccarton.
The Adrian Bull trained gelding is also the latest stakes winner for the NZB Ready to Run Sale. The 2012 edition of the 2YO Sale will be held at Karaka on November 20 and 21.
Nashville (4g Darci Brahma – Royal Kiss by Royal Academy) drew wide and was forced to race at the back of the field under jockey Kelly Myers before powering home to beat a top field of milers by a long neck.
He led home a Karaka trifecta from Shuka (Bachelor Duke) and Platinum Princess (Keeper). The Hunterville based galloper came close to stakes success last season when runner-up to subsequent Cox Plate winner Ocean Park (Thorn Park) in the G3 Wellington Stakes.
Nashville is the fifth stakes winner for hot young sire Darci Brahma who has 14 two-year-olds in next week’s NZB Ready to Run Sale. The Oaks Stud resident sired Darci be Good to win the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup last week.
Bred and sold by Chesterfields Ltd, Nashville was purchased by Beamish Bloodstock at the NZB 2010 Ready to Run Sale for $40,000. He has now won 5 from 10 starts for earnings of $200,000.
Nashville’s Irish bred dam Royal Kiss has also foaled Melbourne winner China Causeway (Giant’s Causeway) and Hong Kong winner Life Of Beauty (Al Maher). Second dam Hawajiss (Kris) was a G2 winner of the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.