'We're keeping all our options open' - Wathnan's unbeaten Defence Minister supplemented again for major Saturday race

The unbeaten Defence Minister has been supplemented for Saturday’s Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at a cost of £20,000 by Wathnan Racing.

The Hamad Al Jehani-trained son of Too Darn Hot was a non-runner in Saturday’s Mill Reef Stakes, a race which he was also supplemented for, due to unsuitably heavy ground at Newbury.

Defence Minister followed up his successful debut on Newmarket’s July course with a comfortable victory at Haydock at the start of September and the colt is also entered in the Tattersalls Stakes on the opening day of the Cambridgeshire meeting.

That Newmarket Group 3 would be Defence Minister’s first try over seven furlongs and on the decision to potentially pitch their juvenile in top-level company, Wathnan Racing’s adviser Richard Brown said: "With all the rain and a very changeable forecast we want to have a range of possible targets for Defence Minister.

“He’s a very promising colt but we know he wants decent ground, so we are keeping all our options open at this stage.”

Gimcrack runner-up Shadow Of Light and Andesite were other non-runners in the Mill Reef Stakes due to the testing ground, and could take their place at the start a week later than planned in the Middle Park, for which 12 remain in contention.

Whistlejacket, who chased home Babouche in the Phoenix Stakes before going one better in the Prix Morny last month, is part of another potential five-strong challenge for O'Brien in the race after Camille Pissarro, Henri Matisse, Ides of March and Treasure Isle all stood their ground.

Mick Appleby scratched Molecomb winner Big Mojo, who was beaten only a neck by Aesterius in the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster's St Leger meeting, from the race in which 11 remain in contention with Coventry Stakes winner Rashabar also not among the confirmations.

Meanwhile the unbeaten Babouche remains in contention for Saturday's Cheveley Park Stakes, with the Ger Lyons-trained filly among 13 confirmations for the Newmarket fillies' Group 1.

Babouche: has won all three of her racesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The daughter of Kodiac is the 6-4 favourite with Paddy Power to make it four wins from as many starts in a race sponsored by her owner-breeders Juddmonte. Her opposition could include Moyglare winner Lake Victoria, who is one of five contenders left in by Aidan O'Brien along with Bubbling, Heavens Gate, Merrily and Truly Enchanting.

Albany winner Fairy Godmother and Bedtime Story, who lost her unbeaten record when finishing last of five behind Lake Victoria in the Moyglare, were not confirmed for the £275,000 event by O'Brien.

Rayevka, a five-length winner at Chantilly last Monday, was added to the race at a cost of £20,000 for the Francis Graffard and Aga Khan combination who have enjoyed Royal Ascot success in Britain this season with subsequent Juddmonte International runner-up Calandagan.

Next year's 2,000 Guineas and Derby favourite The Lion In Winter was not left in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes as expected by O'Brien with Coolmore targeting the Goffs Million at the Curragh on the same day instead.

The Charlie Fellowes-trained Luther is the 2-1 favourite of the 18 who remain in contention. The son of Frankel was an impressive winner of a Listed event at Haydock last time, with his only defeat in three starts coming when chasing home subsequent Grade 1 Woodbine winner New Century.