Hugo Palmer hopes for big run from Gifted Master

Trainer Hugo Palmer is optimistic Gifted Master will take to the dirt in the Godolphin Mile at Meydan on Saturday.

The four-year-old son of Kodiac has struck gold twice at Group Three level, but will be going into the unknown on World Cup night as he encounters this surface for the first time.

He warmed up for his big assignment with a creditable run on the turf in mid-February and has the assistance of blinkers and Ryan Moore on his back.

Palmer said: "Gifted Master is in great form and we've been happy with how he's been working on the dirt.

"Fernando Jara has ridden him in a couple of times and says he feels like a dirt horse. We know it's different when you get into a race, but we're as optimistic as we can be that he'll take to it.

"I think his running style should suit the surface, but we're realistic enough to know the dirt and blinkers will need to bring out some improvement if he's going to win.

"His best form so far wouldn't be good enough to win this race, but stranger things have happened.

"We'l keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best."

Gifted Master is the only British-trained runner in a 13-strong field.

Aidan O'Brien fires two bullets at the UAE Derby in a bid to win the prize for a third time.

Heading this year's assault is the Moore-ridden Lancaster Bomber, who was runner-up in the Dewhurst and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last autumn.

O'Brien also saddles Spirit Of Valor, the mount of Seamie Heffernan.

The trainer's son, Donnacha, told the Dubai Racing Channel: "Spirit Of Valor took a bit of time to get there (the track) as a two-year-old, but he improved quickly.

"He won his maiden well and I was probably a bit unlucky not to win a Group race on him at the back-end.

"The dirt is a bit of an unknown, but we're hoping he'll run a big race.

"We're on a bit of a fact-finding mission with the two of them, to see how they handle the dirt.

"Being by War Front, you'd have to think they have a chance of handling it and if one of them was to win or run a big race, the Kentucky Derby would definitely be on the cards."

Saeed bin Suroor has won the UAE Derby a record seven times and is this year represented by the hat-trick-seeking pair of Top Score (Adrie de Vries) and Thunder Snow (Christophe Soumillon).

"Thunder Snow has done well since winning the UAE 2000 Guineas. He worked nicely on Sunday and is ready to go again," the trainer told www.godolphin.com.

"This step up in distance will be something new for him, but everything is going well and I am hoping for another good result.

"Top Score is improving all of the time. He was third on dirt in the UAE Guineas Trial, when he stayed on well, and has been working well, although he also has to prove himself over the longer trip."

Bin Suroor's fellow Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby sends Fly At Dawn into battle, while Marco Botti's Qatar Man also features among 16 runners.

The two European hopes in the Dubai Golden Shaheen are Appleby's course-and-distance winner Comicas and Mick Halford's Irish challenger Wild Dude.

Appleby said: "Comicas won well on his first start over six furlongs on dirt and it was a fair performance in the Mahab Al Shimaal.

"He is taking on a different calibre of horse and will find this tougher but he is a course-and-distance winner and deserves a crack at a top race like this."

Satish Seemar's remarkable 11-year-old Reynaldothewizard bids for an 11th Meydan success and his second victory in the race, having struck gold in 2013.

Big-race jockey Richard Mullen said: "He is acting more like a two-year-old than an 11-year-old and is in fine form.

"Satish Seemar and the team have really looked after him and he has not had much racing, which has helped him keep going so strongly.

"He should be running on strongly on Saturday."