JOCKEY Anthony Delpech rode his favourite mare, Igugu, in work at Meydan in Dubai on Thursday  morning in preparation for the Gr1  Jebel Hatta over 1800m on turf,  renewed on the Carnival’s annual  Super Saturday meeting this weekend.

Delpech,  in an interview with Newzpoint Media, said that the South  African Triple Crown winner felt “very good” in her preparation gallop, running easily over 1200m with her pace stepped up over the last 400m.

Delpech, who last rode in Dubai in 2007, winning the Sheema Classic for David Ferraris on Vengeance Of Rain, said he was looking foward to the  Jebel  Hatta.

“It’s great to be back.  I haven’t ridden on the new track at Meydan and I’m excited about it. Igugu is a star, we’re all hoping she makes good improvement on Saturday. I don’t know much about the opposition, Mike de Kock will be  briefing me before Saturday.”

Delpech said  that he would  be flying back to South  Africa on Sunday and that a return on World Cup  night would depend entirely on how Igugu shapes up in Saturday’s $US300,000 event.