In-form trainer Saeed bin Suroor sends Platinum Star for the Listed 6f Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy at Ripon on Bank Holiday Monday (15:55) with leading claims of victory.
This Godolphin owned Lope De Vega colt is 5lb and upwards clear of the field on adjusted ratings off a mark of 106.
After chasing home ante post 2000 Guineas favourite Pinatubo home on debut at Wolverhampton, Platinum Star went one better at Leicester.
He scored by a couple of lengths and was then pitched straight in at this level by connections.
Platinum Star was held half-a-length by Southern Hills when dropped back to the minimum trip for the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.
When stepped into Group 2 company for the July Stakes at Newmarket on his penultimate start, he was a fast finishing short-head runner-up to Royal Lytham.
Although then well-beaten upped in trip again for the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, this is easier.
The drop back in trip is also in Platinum Star’s favour, while another plus is the fine form of his stable.
Bin Suroor has his runners operating on a 32 per cent strike rate in the last 14 days at the time of writing.
Taking all that into account, Platinum Star looks a worthy 5/4 favourite with Boylesports for the Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy at the Yorkshire venue.
Oh Purple Reign a consistent danger
If he fails to fire, then the consistent Oh Purple Reign looks one who could take full advantage.
Trained by Richard Hannon, who has an exciting crop of juveniles in his yard this season, there’s not much between him and Platinum Star on a form line through Pinatubo.
After beating Dubai Station – who has since placed twice in group company – by three-quarters of a length on debut at Nottingham, Oh Purple Reign went to the Woodcote on Oaks Day.
Neither he nor Pinatubo handled the undulations of Epsom well, but rallied and ran on well in the final furlong and went down by just 1 1/2 lengths.
Although then filling the same spot over the minimum trip at Beverley, Oh Purple Reign put in a huge performance next time out.
That came on his handicap and all-weather debut at Chelmsford off a mark of 95. He tried to give the re-opposing Bettys Hope a whopping 20lb and was beaten just a neck.
They now meet again off 15lb better terms for Oh Purple Reign and he looks sure to reverse the form. This Sir Prancealot colt then tried 7f for the first time on King George day at Ascot after resuming winning ways at York.
Oh Purple Reign found the extra furlong beyond him at this stage and was a fading but credible fourth to Al Dabaran.
As he made it three wins from seven last time out at Chester, that substantial racecourse experience is a plus.
Now rated 97, Oh Purple Reign is closest to Platinum Star on official figures and 9/2 with Paddy Power to best him here.
Lambeth Walk also respected in Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy
Lambeth Walk is 4lb well-in on Oh Purple Reign on race terms, so cannot be ruled out either.
Trained by Archie Watson, the daughter of Charm Spirit is the clear pick of four fillies in the field.
After winning her first two starts at Windsor and Chelmsford, Lambeth Walk shaped better than the bare result suggests when 10th to Raffle Prize in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
She was only beaten 5 1/2 lengths and shaped as though further would suit. That view was confirmed last time out when upped to 6f for the similar grade Duchess Of Cambridge at the July Festival in Newmarket.
Lambeth Walk was with Raffle Prize all the way until weakening inside the final furlong and beaten just four lengths into fourth.
She was found to be lame after the race, while the winner has since finished a neck runner-up to Earthlight in a Group 1 on bottomless ground in France.
If she is now fully fit, there should be plenty more to come from Lambeth Walk. Her form is very strong and, like other leading Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy contenders, this is easier than previous assignments.
Odds of 4/1 with Bethard reflect the favourable terms Lambeth Walk meets Oh Purple Reign on here.
They still leave her with plenty to find on Platinum Star, however, and that is why she’s second-favourite.
