Long John is the best young colt seen so far in Dubai this year, with the fast-improving Asmar not all that far behind.

These are two smart performers but they may struggle against Aidan O’Brien’s principal contender, Giovanni Boldini. Having putting in such a solid run at the Breeders’ Cup in California last year, he has a real chance of giving the O’Brien stable their third straight win in the UAE Derby.

Giovanni Boldini was second to Godolphin’s Outstrip in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last autumn. Outstrip, having enjoyed the perfect set-up for a closing finish, caught him in the closing stages. A repeat of that form will make Giovanni Boldini tough to beat, and he is open to further improvement.

Long John impressed when landing the UAE 2,000 Guineas and should not have any stamina worries as he took that race comfortably by four-and-a-quarter lengths from Emirates Flyer.

He was a smart runner in his native Australia, winning five of his eight races, including the Caulfield Guineas, when he led coming into the home straight and won by half-a-length from Divine Calling. Long John, at the time trained by Peter Snowden, also met some of the best older ­horses in the Cox Plate. He could only manage ninth but that was also a performance that added to his solid profile.

Asmar was fifth in the Guineas and improved on his next start when outclassing his rivals over this distance on Super Saturday. Ridden for stamina, he passed the winning post six lengths in front of Emirates Flyer, who had beaten him in the Guineas. Asmar is a progressive sort and is the one we know for sure will like the distance and he must be respected even from his wide stall draw, which is hardly ideal for a prominent runner like this colt.

Sir John Hawkins, a stable companion to Giovanni Boldini, ran solid races in group company in Ireland last year and should not be overlooked. Most notable was his third to subsequent Group 1 winner War Command in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Experience with big occasions counts for a lot when we are dealing with these young horses, and Sir John Hawkins is definitely in with a shot.

— The author is a thoroughbred form expert and editor of www.stabell.co.uk