Aidan O'Brien's stylish JAN VERMEER (three-year-old colt by Montjeu - Shadow Song, by Pennekamp) is now second favourite to stablemate St Nicholas Abbey for next month's Group 1 Epsom Derby (2400m).

Ultra-impressive first-up win at The Curragh last Sunday - he cruised up to make it three wins in four starts. That's precisely the same record as his stablemate, also by the same wonderful sire.

Can Montjeu get a Derby winner! He's father of Authorized, Motivator (Epsom Derby), Hurricane Run, Frozen Fire, Fame And Glory (Irish Derby), Nom Du Jeu, Roman Emperor (AJC Australian Derby) and Falstaff (Singapore Derby).

Closer to home Lee Freedman's big fellow DANEMARK (two-year-old colt by Lonhro - Danoise, by Danehill) stamped himself a tidy prospect with a debut fourth at Sandown on Wednesday.

A rather hefty fellow, he was all over the place on the heavy surface yet the talent was obvious. He's looking for 1600m on top of the ground.

Performing in similar style on Wednesday's arduous Canterbury circuit was the Chris Waller-trained LUCKY TOUCH (four-year-old gelding by Lucky Owners - Touch Of Chimes, by Chimes Square).

Also making his debut, the bay had barrier trialled with flair but seemed to flounder in the heavy conditions until straightening.

Once balanced, the leggy type closed keenly on his winning, more experienced, stablemate Schlager. We're tipping Waller's second horse to end up the better galloper.

Tuesday's Echuca winner DESERT CONTROL (three-year-old colt by Desert King - Vienna, by Real Cash) is another steed on the rise.

He returned from a ten-week break to power away with a 1600m maiden and, being a son of an Irish Derby winner, he'll handle middle distances with maturity.

Also bred in the purple, TRANQUILITY (three-year-old filly by Redoute's Choice - Creatrix, by Umatilla) is from a WA Guineas winner and she'll lift her game now.

Unplaced in two Perth runs, the bay has looked a smart prospect in trials and simply found 1300m too sharp when sixth to progressive Global Flirt at Belmont last Wednesday.

(In my column of last week, FAY FAY will be running at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday, Race 1, No. 6. From Five to Follow on May 7, SMOKIN' JOEY ran on Saturday May 22 and finished fifth in Race 5 at Doomben, while STAR OF GALILEE ran on Monday May 24 and finished sixth in Race 9 at Seymour. A French horse called CHASING HALOS, which I mentioned in the April 23 column, raced on May 19 at Saint-Cloud in France and won the first race.)

Tony Brassel is senior form analyst with Sky Racing.