Hunterville galloper Nashville (NZ) has never won past 1600m but his connections are confident he can break through in the G1 Spring Classic (2040m) at Hastings on Saturday.

Nashville has raced three times over 2000m, however, they have all been on right-handed tracks.   The Darci Brahma gelding has a preference for racing anti-clockwise.  “It’s his first time at this distance left-handed,” stable representative Harry Bull said.  “The key will be getting him to settle over the early stages.”

He will be ridden by Rosie Myers who replaces her suspended sister Kelly.  “Rosie knows him well,” Bull said. “She has ridden him in jump-outs and gallops before and they get along well.”

The son of Darci Brahma raced keenly second-up in the early stages of the G1 Windsor Park Plate, but finished well to grab third place behind (NZ) pair Xanadu (Elusive City) and Mufhasa (Pentire).

“He knew he had had a run, but after a few days out in the paddock he came right,” Bull said.  “He’s had a few quiet days since and we galloped him on the course proper at Waverley on Tuesday and he went really well.”

Safely through Saturday, Nashville will head toward the G1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 9.