MICHAEL DODS claimed his maiden Group One victory last year courtesy of Mecca’s Angel, and the County Durham trainer will be dreaming of more top-rank success after Easton Angel made a winning start to her three-year-old campaign in York’s British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes.

Easton Angel showcased her ability when she finished second behind American superstar Acapulco in the Queen Mary Stakes at last year’s Royal Ascot, and the sprinter is set to return to this year’s Royal meeting after yesterday’s eye-catching display.

Dods, who is based at Denton Hall, near Piercebridge, felt Easton Angel paid a heavy price for her Ascot exploits last summer, with her form tailing off towards the end of her two-year-old season.

But with a winter’s training under her belt, he always felt she would rediscover her best form once she returned to the racecourse.

“I just thought she had a few hard races last year, and by the time she ran at Ayr, she was probably bottomed out,” said Dods, who has been in sparkling form at the start of the Flat season. “But we were really happy with how she was going at home and we wanted to come here because you have to start somewhere.

“That’s probably as firm as she would want it, and if anything, she got to the front a bit too soon and started to idle a bit. She’s run a lovely race though, and that really opens the season up for us now.

“I would have liked to have been able to step her up to six furlongs really, but looking at the speed she’s shown there, she looks like she’ll want to stay at five.”

Dods’ other stable star, Mecca’s Angel, is due to make her seasonal reappearance in Haydock’s Temple Stakes a week tomorrow, although as ever with last year’s Nunthorpe winner, her participation will be dependent on the ground.

“She’s in great shape, and we’re ready to go with her, although we’ll need a bit of rain between now and then for her to run,” said Dods. “We’ve been delighted with how she’s been going in training, as we have been with this filly (Easton Angel).”

The chief support race on yesterday’s card, the Group Two Middleton Stakes, went to the Godolphin-trained Beautiful Romance, with the four-year-old turning the tables on short-priced favourite Journey, who had finished ahead of her at Ascot on Champions Day.

“She’s a filly who hasn’t done a huge amount at home, so I would think she’ll improve on that,” said Godolphin racing manager John Ferguson. “Saeed (bin Suroor) was so patient with her last year, but we all believe she’s a Group One filly and she deserves to take her chance in the top races now.”