Vision.AE Middle Park Stakes Group 1

                                                    Middle Park Stakes Group 1

Often seen as the poor relation in comparison to the Dewhurst and usually contested by sprinting types more than horses that will excel at the classic distance. It still usually produces a winner worthy of group one status however, with recent winners including Bushranger, Dutch Art and 5 time group 1 winner Dream Ahead in 2009. This years event looks an open affair with 7 of the British contenders rated within 4lbs of each other with added intrigue arriving in the shape of two very promising Irish raiders

Astaire- A winner of 3 of his 4 starts and took the Gimcrack last time with a battling display from the front. They finished in a bunch that day and while the form is okay, the second has since finished a respectable 4th in the Jean Luc Lagardere, the suspicion is he will need to improve a fair chunk to take a first Group One

Bahamian Heights- The winner of a valuable nursery at York off of a mark of 90 three starts back. Has struggled when pitched into group company however and this by far the strongest field he has taken on. Readily passed over

Brown Sugar- Dual Group Three winning juvenile who seems grossly under appreciated. However even his biggest fans will admit a head defeat of the disappointing Figure Of Speech is a long way short of what is likely to be required here. I loath to write him off completely but he still doesn't appeal as a potential winner in this field

Great White Eagle- £760,000 two year old purchase by the Coolmore outfit who has begun repaying his extravagant price tag with two facile victories so far. Has twice finished ahead of Remember You who was beaten a length in a Fillies Group Three at Ayr and the bare form wouldn't be good enough to take this. However appeals as a potential star and looks a massive runner in this for his trainer who won it in 2004 and 2011

Green Door- Cheaply brought Camacho colt who has garnered three victories from seven runs for rookie trainer Olly Stevens. The best of these came last time when he was a shock winner of the Flying Childers at Doncaster. However that looked a rancid Group Two and he will have to improve massively to take a hand in the finish

Hot Streak- Superb looking Iffraaj colt who was dominant in taking the Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot last week. Entitled to take his chance on the back of that display, although it would be a concern that this may be an afterthought. Has taken a keen hold in his races but relaxed a lot more last time resulting in his devastating finishing kick. If in the same form he looks the main threat to the Irish raiders

Jallotta- Highly tried Mick Channon colt who wasn't good enough to take either of the recent sales races at Newmarket. Will be much the same story here

Justice Day- David Elsworth speedster who made his racecourse debut as long ago as April 19th. Has generally held his form well and won easily in a bog at Salisbury last time. Looks a few pounds shy of what will be needed here

Saayerr- Richmond winner who could finish only 6th under a 3lb penalty in the Gimcrack last time. Better off at the weights with the winner today and gets big race pilot Johnny Murtagh on his back. Another of this years group winning juveniles that looks vulnerable to something top class.

Shamshon- £420,000 purchase who won a weak maiden at Sandown on debut, albeit by 6 lengths, and then took a listed contest in France on second start. Was slightly disappointing when only 5th in the Mill Reef behind two of todays rivals and the suspicion is he is better than that. Perhaps worth another chance and a potential runner at a price

Speedfiend- Noel Quinlan Colt who looks more than good enough to pick up a maiden. Rated only 84 though so won't be breaking his duck today

Sudirman- Second Irish raider and the clear form choice having taken out the Group One Phoenix Stakes on his penultimate start and then finding only Toormore too good in the National Stakes last time. That form stands out in this field and he is a big runner for David Wachman

Supplicant- Comes here looking for a four timer having completed his Hat Trick when winning the Mill Reef last time. That was a muddling affair with the horse that finished last Trading Profit only beaten 2.75 lengths. He gets the Ryan Moore treatment today although that wasn't enough when the pair finished 5th in the Molecombe behind Brown Sugar. Needs to find to take this

Verdict- Excellent renewal which brings no less than 8 winners at Group Three level or above. That proves how open the two year old scene has been in the UK this season with many of todays rivals appearing evenly matched. Therefore it makes sense to focus on the two Irish horses both of whom look capable of fighting out the finish. Sudirman brings the proven form having beaten the Dewhurst favourite War Command into third in the Phoenix Stakes but Great White Eagle is completely unexposed and may be able to improve past him here. The selection was an expensive purchase and comes here unbeaten in two runs, and while he will have to improve on the bare form he looks very likely to do so. Of the rest you could give place chances to numerous runners with Shamshon perhaps worth another chance after his under par run in the Mill Reef. Hot Streak is also respected

1 Great White Eagle
2 Sudirman
3 Shamshon