[5] His dam, Runway Dancer, was an unraced daughter of Dansili and a female-line descendant of the British broodmare Satanella (foaled 1941) who was the ancestor of many major winners including Chief Singer, Winged Love and Pleasantly Perfect.

Ridden by Neil Callan and carrying 131 pounds he led from the start and held on in the closing stages to win by three-quarters of a length from Kommander Kirkup.

[7] He was then moved up sharply in class for the Group Two July Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse in which he took the lead a furlong out but faded in the closing stages and finished sixth of the eleven runners behind the Richard Hannon, Sr-trained Anjaal.

Astaire went to the front from the start, established a clear advantage a furlong from the finish and won "comfortably" by two and three quarter lengths from Coulsty (later to win the Prix de Meautry).

[10] On his final appearance of the season Astaire was stepped up again in class when he was one of ten colts to contest the Group One Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket on 12 October and started at odds of 8/1.

Despite hanging to the right he stayed on "gamely" in the closing stages and won by half a length from Hot Streak with Justice Day in third ahead of the 100/1 shot Speedfiend.

He finished sixth to Slade Power in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and then ran eleventh of thirteen behind the same horse in the July Cup.

In the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on 20 June he started a 25/1 outsider but produced one of his best performance as he proved the best of the European runners, taking third place behind the American gelding Undrafted and the Australian Brazen Beau.