Turf Talk: Last chance to see dual Nunthorpe heroine Mecca's Angel ahead of retirement

FANS may get only one more chance to see dual Nunthorpe heroine Mecca's Angel before she is retired to the paddocks.
Jockey Paul Mulrennan celebrates as he rides Mecca's Angel to victory in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes during day three of the 2016 Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York last week.Jockey Paul Mulrennan celebrates as he rides Mecca's Angel to victory in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes during day three of the 2016 Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York last week.
Jockey Paul Mulrennan celebrates as he rides Mecca's Angel to victory in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes during day three of the 2016 Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York last week.

While Michael Dods and owner David Metcalfe are keen to see how she would fare over a sixth furlong at Ascot on Champions Day, that race comes just two weeks after her primary target, the Prix de l’Abbaye at Chantilly on October 2.

“She came home fine and she’ll have an easy week or two and then I’ll start to build her back up for the Abbaye,” said Dods.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The Flying Five (Curragh, September 11) isn’t on the agenda anymore, it just comes too close to the Abbaye.

“I’m not keen for her to have a run before France as I like her to be nice and fresh.

“The Abbaye is the number one target and then Ascot comes two weeks after that.

“As Ascot would be her last race we might risk it, but at the moment France is the number one priority and only if she came out of that bouncing would we consider Ascot.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I have always wanted to try her over six before she retires but we’ll just have to see.”

Thesme, meanwhile, has the Scarbrough Stakes at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting as her next port of call after she outran her odds in the Nunthorpe.

Sent off an unconsidered 66-1 chance, Nigel Tinkler’s speedy filly led the field along until Mecca’s Angel and Limato took over entering the final furlong.

Thesme was also grabbed on the line by Take Cover and Cotai Glory as she finished fifth.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“She’s amazing, she’s so quick,” said part-owner Simon Chappell.

“She’ll go for the Scarbrough at Doncaster next, I think, and try and get black type there, and then we might travel with her.

“The Abbaye is at Chantilly this year so that could be a possible. If Doncaster is too soft there’s also a Group Three at Chantilly we could think about.”

SOBOT’S SELECTIONS

CATTERICK: 1.50 Fields Of Song, 2.20 Soundstrings, 2.50 Kisumu, 3.20 Mywayistheonlyway, 3.50 Horsforth, 4.20 NIETZSCHE (NAP), 4.55 Innocently.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

KEMPTON: 5.40 O’Connor’s Girl, 6.10 Endless Gold, 6.40 Notary, 7.10 Cinders, 7.40 Trevisani, 8.10 Rock Steady, 8.40 Don’t Blame Me.

LINGFIELD: 1.40 Wakened, 2.10 Aimez La Vie, 2.40 Cool Echo, 3.10 Head Space, 3.40 Gin In The Inn, 4.10 Harlequin Rock, 4.40 Mr Rock, 5.10 Cape Spirit.

MUSSELBURGH: 2.00 Election Day, 2.30 Rainbow Rebel, 3.00 Mappin Time, 3.30 La Bacouetteuse, 4.00 Regal Response, 4.30 Merchant Of Dubai.

STRATFORD: 5.20 Scarlet Minstrel, 5.50 Pied Du Roi, 6.20 Rossetti, 6.50 Glenwood For Ever, 7.20 Grand Enterprise, 7.50 Brunton Blue.

Related topics: