PRIDE of the north, Mecca's Angel, retained her crown in one of the world's biggest sprints at York Races today.

The flying grey filly, trained by Michael Dods at Denton, near Darlington, became the first filly to win the Group 1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes twice.

Winning in a near record time, Mecca's Angel, owned by Darlington businessman David Metcalfe, has now sealed her place as one of the best sprinters of all time.

She stormed clear of the field to beat well-backed 2-1 favourite Limato by a highly-impressive two lengths.

Mecca's Angel had disapppointed badly at Royal Ascot but The Northern Echo revealed that she had been in season.

She bounced back from that disappointing effort with a smooth win in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh before winning even more impressively at York today.

Michael Dods, who was confident in his filly's ability to win the race. "She's done that easily. She's some horse."

Jockey Paul Mulrennan said: "She's given me my first two Group 1 wins and it's great for everyone involved.

"The team at home do all the work - I just have to point her. She travelled through the race like a dream."