IN A single week, the climax of the National Hunt season gives way to the start of the Flat and this year, more than ever, Godolphin's quest to win the Kentucky Derby is expected to reach Everest-like heights.

Sheikh Mohammed's dream is to saddle the winner of the traditional Run For The Roses but, with Dubai

Destination's reappearance likely to be delayed, it is unlikely anything will carry the all-blue silks to pose a threat to the top local horses and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Johannesburg.

The latter made an unexpected trip to Lingfield last week and worked on the all-weather track with trainer Aidan O'Brien in close attendance in a jeep. Far from being the potentially brilliant speedster who rocketed away with the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, Johannesburg proved through his victory in New York that he has the kind of qualities which can give him superstar status this summer.

I have to look back 30 years to Brigadier Gerard to find the last champion at a variety of distances. The best miler since Tudor Minstrel, The Brigadier was at his strongest over a mile, yet Dick Hern turned him into a top-drawer mile-and-a-quarter horse and somehow managed to land a King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes with him on his sole attempt at a mile and a half.

When experiencing his only defeat at the hands of Roberto in the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup at York, Brigadier Gerard got an entry for the Nunthorpe Stakes over five furlongs, so much natural speed did he possess. He would almost certainly have won a July Cup, had he been allowed to contest one but connections went for bigger fish to fry, including the likes of Mill Reef.

I am not suggesting Aidan O'Brien will map out a fluctuating programme for Johannesburg, who looked the proverbial racing machine when winning at Belmont Park, but, should the colt fail through lack of stamina at Churchill Downs, don't be surprised to see him strutting his stuff on the Newmarket July course in that flaming month.

It's been astonishing to see this colt graduate through the distance ranks and refreshing to see him campaigned like a proper racechorse, just as Brigadier Gerard was, but, after a long and tough juvenile campaign, it's more likely that his strikes will come in the early to middle part of the year, while his iron is still piping hot.

As for Godolphin, my guess is that their Derby challenge will emanate from Tempera and Imperial Gesture, who recorded that memorable one-two in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Imperial Gesture was an impressive winner at Nad Al Sheba last month but Tempera had an off-day when easily beaten by another Kentucky Oaks possible, Infinite Spirit, in the UAE 1,000 Guineas.

It will be fascinating to see whether Godolphin decide to take the Derby route with either filly after their clash in the UAE Oaks on April 13.