Paul Hanagan does not expect the likely testing conditions to inconvenience Estidhkaar when he attempts to land championship two-year-old honours in Friday's Dubai Dewhurst Stakes.
A hot favourite for the Richard Hannon stable, the Dark Angel colt burst on to the scene when thrashing the high-class Aktabantay in the Superlative Stakes on Newmarket's July Course.
Estidhkaar then had to carry a penalty in the Champagne Stakes, but completed his mission in decent enough style.
His big-race jockey expects him to be a tough nut to crack on the Rowley Mile.
"This is a very good horse," said Hanagan.
"I sat on him (on Sunday) at Richard Hannon's and I couldn't have been more happy with him.
"I don't think he'll mind the ground if it does come up soft.
"He's very straightforward, he's a lengthener and galloper with a very good attitude.
"It was a bit of a messy race at Doncaster. They didn't go very quick and he was a bit fresh.
"It was his first day back after a long time and I couldn't really give him his head.
"He'll be spot-on for Newmarket."
Hannon told his website: "Paul came down to ride him and he was delighted with the way the colt was moving.
"He won the Champagne in the mud at Doncaster, so we won't be making any excuses if we get beat, but he goes there is top form and we are very hopeful."
The Dewhurst has long been the target for Kodi Bear, who was fifth as a maiden in the Coventry Stakes and then returned to Ascot in July to claim the Listed Winkfield Stakes.
Trainer Clive Cox said: "I'm really happy with his preparation, he had a nice break after Ascot and everything has been going well.
"I don't think I need to be worried about the ground, it was on the easy side when he won at Ascot and he seemed to handle that.
"It's a step up in class, no doubt, but I'm pleased with him and he's going there in good form."
"He won the Champagne (Stakes) in the mud at Doncaster, so we won't be making any excuses if we get beat" - Trainer Richard Hannon on Estidhkaar
With Richard Hughes not required for Hannon, the title-chasing rider has picked up an interesting spare mount aboard Saeed bin Suroor's Maftool.
Second in the Sirenia at Kempton, he then claimed the Somerville Tattersall Stakes over the Dewhurst course and distance.
Hughes told At The Races: "He's a horse that stays well.
"He's won on the track, which is a huge bonus, and I'm looking forward to him."
Secret Brief had to be supplemented for the Group One contest by Mark Johnston, but has more than paid for his own ticket with a couple of lucrative sales race victories at Newmarket.
It will be the Shamardal colt's sixth competitive start in the last 11 weeks, but the Middleham maestro is confident his charge remains in peak condition.
He said: "He has taken things easy between his races and I am sure that this kind of schedule is not too much to ask of a horse.
"Secret Brief is obviously very well because I do not take supplementing a horse lightly.
"This is a big step up for him but he is a course and distance winner who has earned a shot at a Group One.
"He has been a surprising horse in that early on at home we thought that he was top class, then he took a while to get the hang of things."
Belardo was beaten two and a half lengths into fourth by Estidhkaar at Doncaster, but connections are optimistic the Roger Varian-trained colt can at least close the gap.
Ted Voute, racing manager for owner Prince Faisal, said: "The Prince was keen to run him somewhere where the word 'soft' would be in the going description and it looks as though he'll get that.
"We're drawn next to the favourite, which is good, and our horse will be wearing a hood for the first time. Hopefully that will help him a bit.
"Roger tells me he expects the horse to be there or thereabouts, so we're optimistic about his chances, but Group Ones are obviously very hard to win.
"The Prince will be there and everyone is keeping their fingers crossed, as always.
"We've got to find out if the horse is up to this level."
