Mecca’s Angel delights in Nunthorpe romp

Mulrennan and Dodds celebrate winning the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes with Mecca’s Angel. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Michael Dods is plotting an explosive end to the career of Mecca’s Angel at Champions Day at Ascot.

Dods is keen for his QIPCO British Champions Series star to bow out in the Champions Sprint and she will be one of the headline acts on show on October 15 after becoming a rare dual winner of the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York today.

Twelve months ago the grey collared Acapulco late on to take the spoils but this time she took charge a couple of furlongs from home and powered to a two-length win over Limato, the dazzling July Cup winner, without jockey Paul Mulrennan having to ask for everything.

Take Cover, winner of the King George at Goodwood last month, was an honourable third but Profitable and Goldream, both Series winners, were simply unable to live with her.

Mecca’s Angel, sent off at 9-2, will be retired to the paddocks at the end of this season and could run in Ireland, France and England as part of her farewell tour.

Champions Day is the principal target, though, even though the brilliant speedster has yet to win over six furlongs.

“The Sprint on Champions Day will be her final run,” Dods said. “The extra furlong will be interesting. I think she would have won at any trip today.

“She put it to bed a long way out and she’s shown just how good she is. I could not see anyone coming at her but Limato is great horse and they’ve never won until they have gone past the post.”

Dods has been reluctant to run Mecca’s Angel on fast ground and feared he may have to scratch the five-year-old hours before the Group One contest.

He had phoned the course on Thursday to see if any water was going to be put on the track and was dejected when told the answer was no because rain was forecast.

“I was devastated and didn’t sleep all night,” Dods said. “I was worried the rain was not going to come in time but then, half an hour away from the course, it began raining and after walking the track a second time I was happy conditions were fine for her.”

Proud owner David Metcalfe said: “This is a fantastic feeling but now I will have to throw another party and Michael never wants to chip in!

“If I was really stupid I would keep her but she’s too valuable, she’s got to go to the paddocks. Finding another as good as her is going to be the hardest job.”

Limato, a gelding, could be around for many more years. He started 15-8 favourite, even though he was having his first run over the minimum trip.

“It was worth a try and was good fun,” trainer Henry Candy said. “They’ve run an incredibly quick time on rain-softened ground and I think he ran as well as he did at Newmarket.”

A rematch between Mecca’s Angel and Limato over an extra furlong on Champions Day would be exciting but Candy believes the ground “will have gone” for his fast-ground specialist by then.

“It would not surprise me at all if we waited for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint over six furlongs,” he said. “I’m still convinced he’s gets a mile, which is probably hard to believe after that performance. He’s very versatile.”