Curragh tips for Saturday: Mecca’s Angel a Sapphire Stakes gem

David Metcalf | July 15, 2016

Angel can sprint to success in Sapphire Stakes

Mecca’s Angel is one of the best sprinters in training and can take advantage of a drop in class to get back to winning ways in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes on Irish Oaks day at the Curragh (16:05).

The Michael Dods trained mare has a tremendous strike rate, having won seven of her 15 starts and has also finished placed on four occasions.

She was beaten just a neck in the race 12 months ago before posting a career best performance when landing the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York on good-to-soft ground in sensational style.

After showing bags of early pace in a race run at a searching gallop, the five-year-old was ridden to chase the trail-blazing clear leader Acapulco a furlong from home before showing a smart turn of foot to mow down that rival and win going away by two lengths.

Awesome display of speed and power

It was an awesome display of speed and power, and Mecca’s Angel has nothing to fear from the re-opposing Sole Power, who finished 4 1/2 lengths behind her in fourth.

Although turned over in the Group 2 Temple Stakes on return to action at Haydock when sent off a short-priced favourite, the daughter of Dark Angel went down fighting to be beaten just a neck by Profitable and looked as good as ever.

Mecca’s Angel was then found wanting again after flopping in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, but this is easier and represents a nice opening for her to get her career back on track.