Charlie Appleby believes Gold Town must take another step up in order to justify strong favouritism for the UAE Derby at Meydan on Saturday.

The Godolphin runner is unbeaten in two starts at the course and will attempt to go one better than his sire Street Cry, who finished second in the corresponding race before plundering the World Cup the next year.

One of the highlights of the 2018 Dubai Carnival has been the ease with which Gold Town dispatched his foes in the Guineas Trial and the Group Three UAE 2000 Guineas.

And in a blowout on grass on Wednesday and a gentle spin in the Marmoom dirt track on Thursday morning, the gelding has ably completed his preparation for the move up the class ladder.

“What he has done here has been impressive, but Saturday is a step up for him,” said Appleby.

“I think the longer distance improved him from his first race to the second and I hope he can do the same over the Derby trip.

“He is taking on better horses this time, in a far tougher contest. Hopefully he can rise to the challenge.

“We’ve been thinking about the Kentucky Derby, but let’s get to Saturday first and see how he gets on there.

“He likes running on dirt and the switch to that, along with him being gelded, have made a huge difference to him.”