Eagle swoops for Middle Park Aidan O'Brien's highly regarded Great White Eagle bids to maintain his unbeaten record when he steps into Group One company for the vision.ae Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. Very impressive on his debut at Naas in August, the Elusive Quality colt confirmed himself a juvenile with real Classic potential when winning the Go And Go Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh without coming off the bridle. O'Brien last won the Middle Park two years ago with Crusade, who went on to finish sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. "We are happy with him, he's in good order. He's only had the two runs but I have been happy with his work since (the Curragh)," said the Ballydoyle handler. He's taken on by the David Wachman-trained Sudirman, the only Group One winner in the field having landed the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. He looks to resume winning ways having chased home the impressive Toormore in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes. Connections of Supplicant believe they have "little to lose" by upping him in class. After looking exposed mid-season when meeting with defeats at Royal Ascot and Goodwood, Richard Fahey's youngster has struck form with a vengeance, rattling off a hat-trick of wins culminating in victory in the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury. Supplicant was subsequently supplemented for the Middle Park, in which he bids to emulate Awzaan, who won both races in 2009. Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: "The rain will be appreciated and he's in good form. We've got little to lose by running him. After he won the Mill Reef, we decided to supplement him, and now we'll find if he's up to a Group One. It's only surprising to find 13 were declared with only six going for the Dewhurst." Gimcrack winner Astaire represents Kevin Ryan, with the trainer taking the same route as in 2005 when he saddled Amadeus Wolf to win at York before claiming the Middle Park. Astaire has won three of his four starts, with his only defeat coming at Newmarket in the July Stakes, and the Hambleton handler is confident he will handle any ground conditions. "I don't think he has any preference as far as the ground is concerned. You wouldn't have thought he would have gone through the soft ground at York, but he did, and I don't believe there is any such thing as fast ground at this time of year," said Ryan. "He never leads in his work at home but I will leave the tactics to Neil Callan, he knows the horse very well. Astaire is, like all Gimcrack winners, a very good horse. He has shown us loads since day one and has since proved himself on the racecourse." Ryan also runs last week's impressive Cornwallis winner Hot Streak, who is stepped back up from the minimum trip.
