Caulfield Guineas winner Long John has staked his claim for the UAE Derby with a scintillating display in the 2000 Guineas in Dubai.

Long John, part of the latest group on horses transferred from Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Australia to his Godolphin operation, showed a blistering turn of foot at Meydan on Thursday.

Taking several lengths out of the field in a matter of strides under Mickael Barzalona, Long John (7-4 fav) ran out an emphatic winner for trainer Charlie Appleby in his first race since leaving Peter Snowden after running in the Cox Plate.

He stormed past the line 4-1/4 lengths clear of the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Emirates Flyer.

Paximadia, winner of the Sandown Guineas, finished seventh.

"I must give Peter Snowden's team a big thank you. They gave us a lot of information about the horse and they were 100 per cent spot on," Appleby said.

"The decision where we go next will be made by Sheikh Mohammed and Simon Crisford (racing manager), but I see no reason why we shouldn't head on to the UAE Derby. I can't see 10 furlongs (2000m) being a problem on that evidence.

"He is a lovely horse to handle and very straight forward."

Two of Long John's former Australian stablemates, Complicate and Bello, finished third and fourth respectively in the Group Three Al Shindagha Sprint.

Dual South African horse of the year Variety Act (evens favourite) looked a class act with an all-the-way win in the Group Three Firebreak Stakes.

Despite sweating profusely beforehand, Joey Ramsden's six-year-old settled beautifully for Anton Marcus at the head of affairs and brushed his rivals aside to score by two lengths from Haatheq.