PRIDE of the north, Mecca’s Angel, looks to be in flying form as she prepares for what is likely to be a French finale to her fairytale career.

The super-fast grey filly, trained at Denton, near Darlington, by Michael Dods, heads to France by train on Saturday morning as hot favourite for one of the world’s top sprint races, the Prix de l’Abbaye.

And owner David Metcalfe, who farms at Burtree, just outside of Darlington, has told The Northern Echo that there is a 75 per cent chance that it will be her last run after a glorious career in which she has won ten out of her 18 races.

There remains a possibility that she could run over six furlongs on Champions’ Day at Ascot on October 15 but, if she wins at Chantilly on Sunday, the temptation will be to allow her to bow out with a victory before being retired to stud.

Mr Metcalfe said: “I’ve talked to Michael and, if she wins in France, we would probably call it a day so that she goes out as a winner.”

The four-year-old daughter of Dark Angel has never run over the extended six furlongs but there was no sign of her stopping when she won her second successive Group 1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes in brilliant style at York last month.

“People seem to think she’ll stay the six furlongs but you never know and Karl Burke’s Quiet Reflection will be hard to beat. We’ll just wait to see what happens in France and then make a decision,” said Mr Metcalfe.

Stable jockey Paul Mulrennan has told connections he’s confident that the filly is just as good as before the Nunthorpe, where she never looked like losing in beating Limato by a comfortable two lengths.

While questioning whether Mecca’s Angel should be so short in the betting (currently trading at around 7-4), Michael Dods says she “looks tremendous”.

“Michael’s done a great job with her – I wouldn’t put my horses with anyone else,” said Mr Metcalfe.

The filly missed the Prix de l’Abbaye last year due to the ground being too firm but there is growing confidence that the going won’t be a problem this time.

The Chantilly turf has been watered this week and, with rain forecast over the next few days, the sting should be taken out of it before Sunday’s race, which is a prelude to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Mr Metcalfe is already preparing for life after Mecca’s Angel and has budgeted to buy two new horses to place with Dods but he’s well aware that the chances of ever getting another one like Mecca’s Angel are very slim.

“We probably won’t see the like of her in the north for a very long time,” said the owner. “It has been an absolute privilege to own her.”