Full field assembles for ETS Refrigeration Black Opal Preview

Preview by Neil Evans.

It promises to be a tough and enthralling betting race, with nine of the initial 14 accepted runners for Friday's 2YO Black Opal Preview over 1000m at Thoroughbred Park first starters.

Stables already coming from all points of the compass for a meeting likely to be run on a Good 4 with mainly fine weather forecast for the lead-up.

And it's one of those debutants who is set to overcome some serious hurdles and claim the prize.

Nashville Jack, a colt by 2020 Golden Slipper winner Farnan in the Brad Widdup stable at Hawkesbury, is already full of excitement and potential.

He starts his career off two eye-catching trials, winning the former at Wyong before hitting the line impressively under a hold at Warwick Farm after travelling wide, and being tracked up by early Golden Slipper candidate Wodeton.

It was the trial of a youngster who can run this trip out powerfully, but he'll have to do it from the extreme outside barrier.

Jockey Alysha Collett will almost certainly drift back & look to tuck in early for some cover, knowing there's good speed in the race.

And that speed is likely to come from another Farnan-sired colt in Farcited from the Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott yard at Randwick.

He's shown natural speed at the trials, but each time found a couple superior on the line. Whether he's mature and strong enough to stave them off under race pressure is a query.

Keep a big watch too on Perle De Chocolat, a filly by Astern in the Gerald Ryan-Sterling Alexiou stable at Rosehill, who won a recent trial in commanding fashion.

Riden back with a trail she was pushed along from 350m & rounded them up - collaring Sassy Abbey who is also set to debut in the race for the Bjorn Baker stable - although the 1000m may be a touch short in her first run since a solid debut in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes last October.

Randwick filly Blinked is another market watch coming through a handy maiden debut at Canterbury working home fairly just behind the placegetters.

And let's not forget first reserve and dominant front-running winner here Steel Knight, a colt by 2016 Slipper winner Capitalist from the Annabel Neasham-Rob Archibald camp, although he's far more likely to tackle the Group 2 Silver Slipper at Rosehill on Saturday.

My BLACK OPAL PREVIEW Tips:

1. NASHVILLE JACK

2. Perle De Chocolat

3. Farcited

4. Sassy Abbey

The club has attracted another strong Preview day - the full-scale entree before the main course on Sunday, March 9.

And naturally, the National Sprint Preview over 1200m is another robust and open affair, with many chances, but a talented mare is poised to strike second-up.

Acapella Sun, from the Goulburn stable of Matt Dale, did her best work late from the back when resuming in a Benchmark 72 at Canterbury over 1100m three weeks ago.

That was her first run since early August, and she's a natural improver into the next start.

Despite an unflattering strike rate from 31 starts, this race is a lovely springboard into the National Sprint showdown 16 days later, and she looks fairly treated at the weights only 1.5kg above the limit.

Let's not forget she was Saturday placed in metropolitan BM 78 company last prep, and drawn to get to the middle here late, will relish the big run home.

My NATIONAL SPRINT PREVIEW Tips:

1. ACAPELLA SUN

2. Prophet's Pride

3. Gundy Guy

4. Imasuperstar

GOOD LUCK

@NeilEvansmail