No stable has made a greater impact with its two-year-olds this year than Godolphin. There have been 54 winners, only four fewer than Godolphin managed with its entire European string in 2008. Yet they would surely trade the majority for one by Al Zir in the Racing Post Trophy on Saturday.

It will not be easy. The Dewhurst Stakes, with its bunched finish, served only to muddy the classic waters. And while the first four in betting on the Derby are expected to run at Doncaster, the winner could just as likely vault to the head of the 2,000 Guineas lists. Especially if it happens to be Al Zir.

A son of Medaglia D'Oro, the exciting young American stallion, Al Zir has shown plenty of pace in two bloodless victories from as many starts. “He should be fine over ten furlongs next year,” Simon Crisford, racing manager for Godolphin, said. “Whether he will stay beyond that is highly questionable.”

First, however, he must prove that he belongs. “We are not even thinking about the classics,” Crisford said. “We need to see how good he is and this race will tell us. He's very difficult to assess. Others are more battle-hardened but he has a lot of natural talent. If he comes through, then we can consider him a top-notch prospect.”

Crisford agrees that the two-year-old division remains in a state of flux. “We haven't yet seen a standout horse, either from our string or from the two-year-olds in other stables. So far ours have performed pretty much in line with expectations, but we have others coming through as well.”

One of them is Zeitoper, who recently became Godolphin's third juvenile group winner of the campaign to remain unbeaten in three starts. These home-produced horses are backed up by recent acquisitions in Emerald Commander, Kingsfort and Chabal, the last-named reported “absolutely fine” after his disappointing Dewhurst effort on his final start for Jim Bolger.

Al Zir has certainly made an impact on Frankie Dettori, who rides him at Doncaster in a race that has delivered three of the past eight Derby winners. Authorized was the most recent and Peter Chapple-Hyam, his trainer, is represented by Coordinated Cut and Morana. The latter has the stronger form but Coordinated Cut has long been the apple of Chapple-Hyam's eye.

Even then, Coordinated Cut cedes favouritism to his paternal half-brother by Montjeu, St Nicholas Abbey, from the Aidan O'Brien stable. St Nicholas Abbey landed the group two Beresford Stakes last month.

“He has pleased us since his last run,” O'Brien said. “He is one for next year, a colt who should stay well but has plenty of speed with it. We like him, and obviously we hope he can take another step forward on Saturday.”

Completing the main protagonists is Elusive Pimpernel, whose trainer, John Dunlop, has plenty of juvenile talent. However, Dunlop has already opined that the son of Elusive Quality is unlikely to stay much beyond a mile next year. As with Al Zir, victory for Elusive Pimpernel would have a greater bearing on the 2,000 Guineas picture than that of the Derby. Either way, it should be a fascinating race.