Fahey’s Supplicant is now aiming to emulate Awzaan as he takes step up

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 six-furlong Middle Park in which he bids to emulate Awzaan, who won both races in 2009.

“The rain will be appreciated and he’s in good form. We’ve got little to lose by running him,” said Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud.

“After he won the Mill Reef, we decided to supplement him for the Middle Park, and now we’ll find if he’s up to a Group One.

“It’s surprising to find 13 were declared with only six going for the Dewhurst.”

Gimcrack winner Astaire represents Kevin Ryan, with the Hambleton trainer taking the same route as in 2005 when he saddled Amadeus Wolf to win at York before claiming the Middle Park eight years ago.

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 cope with any ground conditions.

“He never leads in his work at home but I will leave the tactics to Neil Callan, he knows the horse very well,” said Ryan, who also runs last week’s impressive Cornwallis winner Hot Streak who was very impressive at Ascot.

“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.”