 Nashwan made his debut in the Yattendon Maiden Stakes at Newbury in August 1988.He started 6/4 favourite in a field of 27 runners and won by three quarters of a length from Young Turpin, with the unplaced runners including the subsequent Derby Italiano winner Prorutori.On 8 October, Nashwan was moved up in class to contest the Listed Autumn Stakes over one mile at Ascot.