Waiting For An Angel

As so often in 2015, trainer Michael Dods is having to look to the skies as he prepares to unleash Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in Saturday's G2 Temple S. at Haydock. Much protected last term, the grey paid back the patience of connections by overcoming Acapulco (Scat Daddy) in the G1 Nunthorpe S. over this five-furlong trip at York in August. That was the third and final start of her campaign, hindered by unsuitably quick ground, and Dods will pull her again if the forecast wet weather fails to materialise. “We're just watching the forecast. Obviously, we'd need rain,” he said. “If we get the rain and the ground goes decent, she'll run. If we don't and the ground doesn't alter then she won't. It's a tough race. These races are never going to be easy. She's proved that if she doesn't get the ground, she struggles.” Dods is looking at the June 14 G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot for his stable luminary, but again the surface will be critical, as it was when he withdrew her from that race last June. “She strengthened up over the winter. She'll come on for the run, but she's ready to go,” he added. “You can train her on the light side–first time out last year I thought she'd need the run, yet she broke the track record. I didn't take her anywhere for a gallop last year so I haven't done this time; I can get her ready at home. We'd like to go for the King's Stand, Nunthorpe and a race in Ireland and we'd also like to try her over six at some stage. But because of her need for the right conditions, we'll need back-ups.”

Unlike Mecca's Angel, last year's King's Stand and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye hero Goldream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) needs it fast, and trainer Robert Cowell is hoping it remains dry so that the 7-year-old can rebound from a latest ninth in Meydan's G1 Al Quoz Sprint Mar. 26. “Things didn't really work out for him in Dubai. He never looked well–I don't know why–but he's back with a vengeance now,” he explained of the dark bay, who is forced to shoulder a four-pound penalty. “He worked like an absolute beast the other day. He's on course and we'll just have to hope the ground stays fast and that will be his prep for the King's Stand.”

Newmarket's G3 Palace House S. was won by Profitable (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), and it may be that he came of age in that Apr. 30 sprint. Trainer Clive Cox believes he can only build on that comeback effort. “I was thrilled the way he won the Palace House, because we did think he might just improve a little bit,” he commented. “He's clearly in good form and I hope they don't get too much rain up there. We were always boxing in that division last year and those sprinters can find a little bit, and he did.”

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's 2015 G2 King George S. winner Muthmir (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Waady (Ire) (Approve {Ire}) have strong chances, with the former only beaten two lengths when fifth in the Al Quoz Sprint and the latter third in the Palace House, which was his first defeat over this trip. “Muthmir obviously went to Dubai and ran a decent race. We've said it before, but hopefully one day he'll win a big one,” the owner's racing manager, Angus Gold, said. “We're getting him ready for Ascot. He prefers flatter tracks and fast ground. If the rain comes, that won't suit him, but William [Haggas] is adamant we need to get a run into him before Ascot to get the freshness out of him. Waady probably wouldn't want it too soft, either. He was a bit buzzy [at Newmarket] and Paul [Hanagan] said it was hard to get cover early. He was a bit too keen on his first day back at school, but he's in good form and is a good horse on his day.”