Last year's G1 Nunthorpe S. winner Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is likely to make her seasonal debut in the G2 Temple S. at Haydock May 21, according to owner David Metcalfe. Metcalfe noted that the 5-year-old mare would be entered in all the key sprinting spots but said that, like last year, her starts would be limited to where she would find cut in the ground.
“She'll be entered for all the big ones, but it will boil down to the ground again,” the owner said. “We did think about going to France, to Deauville, for a race just a few days earlier but we'd like to keep her in England if we can.”
Mecca's Angel ran just three times last year, her lone loss coming when second over good ground in the G2 Sapphire S. in July. Metcalfe said he would like to return to Ireland with the Michael Dods trainee if conditions suit.
“At the end of the season I'd like to run her in the [G2] Flying Five [S.] at The Curragh, because we bought her in Ireland and when she went last year we had a great time,” Metcalfe explained. He also added he would like to try his mare over six furlongs, a trip she has tried just once in 14 starts.
“She will be entered over six this year,” he said. “The trouble might be if she gets her ground it will put more of an emphasis on her stamina–the way she went past the post in the Nunthorpe it looks like she'd get six, but I'm still dubious.”
As for now, Mecca's Angel is progressing well towards her seasonal debut.
“At the moment she's very fresh and well,” Metcalfe said. “She goes up the gallop on her own as otherwise she'd get too lit up.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
