France the target for Mecca’s Angel
The dual Nunthorpe winner is being readied for a tilt at the Prix de l'Abbaye with a trip to Ascot afterwards depending on her performance in France
RACEGOERS may only get one more chance to see dual Nunthorpe heroine Mecca's Angel before she is retired to the paddocks.
While trainer 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.
"The Flying Five (Curragh, September 11) isn't on the agenda any more, 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.
"I have always wanted to try her over six before she retires but we'll just have to see."
