SPRINTING sensation Mecca's Mate stands on the brink of her biggest career success to date in this afternoon's Group 3 Audi Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

The rags-to-riches story of the North Yorkhire-based speedster almost defies belief seeing as David Barker's grey mare started the season on a selling-plater's rating of only 57.

Four handicap victories, plus her latest success in Listed company at Ayr, means Mecca's Mate (3.25) has soared up over 40lbs and is without a shadow of doubt one of the most improved horses of the year.

The four-year-old has developed an extremely distinctive hold-up style, waiting in the rear until jockey Fergal Lynch unleashes her with a wicked turn of foot inside the final furlong. So fast does Mecca's Mate rocket pass the opposition she makes her rivals look like they are all wearing deep-sea diving boots.

It's an effect that is even more pronounced when the ground is soft, consequently with plenty of rain around everything has come right for Barker's flying machine.

There's no denying that the following two-mile Goodwood Cup is a rather sub-standard affair with no real staying stars for die-hard Flat fans to drool over.

The sole class act in the contest is Millenary, who despite two recent relatively miserable efforts still boasts a stunning record of ten wins from 31 outings.

The very fact that his veteran handler John Dunlop remains prepared to roll the dice yet again with the eight-year-old suggests all is not lost, although it's hard to back his charge with total conviction.

Another guy more than prepared to throw all of his hats into the ring is Mark Johnston, who pitches three against Millenary (3.25) via Golden Quest, Winged d'Argent, and Hearthstead Wings.

Three-year-olds don't often win the race, which more-or-less discounts the latter. Winged d'Argent could be a threat but he's too hit-and-miss for my liking, which only leaves Golden Quest, successful when carrying top weight to victory in a one-mile-six-furlong handicap at the meeting on Tuesday.

Golden Quest is obviously on the upgrade but the official figures reveal he has a mountain to climb with the likes of both the selection and Distinction, therefore he rather reluctantly gets the elbow despite the stable's sublime form.

Michael Dods pays a rare visit to the track with Best Prospect (4.00), worthy of an each-way wager in the mile-and-a-quarter ladbrokes.com Handicap.

Like all of the races at the Festival it's a viciously competitive heat, but at least Best Prospect's maiden victory was achieved on a good-to-soft surface, conditions almost identical to those he will encounter today.

Dreadful is one word that would fairly describe Peter Chapple-Hyam's season.

His team has been laid low with the sort of virus which everyone dreads, his horses bleeding from the nose on the exercise gallops, let alone when tried at full speed.

Finally the germs appear to have left base camp and with their departure King Marju (4.35) is coming back to something approaching top order.

The son of Marju was only beaten a cat's whisker over track and trip as a two-year-old, a performance that categorically proves he acts on the predominately downhill course, neither are there any problems with the testing conditions. There was also plenty to like about his latest close-up sixth spot at Newmarket, which should have put that vital edge on his fitness required for the De Boer Handicap.

l Great Leighs will stage 24 fixtures next year when the Essex track opens its doors in October 2006.

Britain's newest racecourse since Taunton opened in September 1927 is reported to have paid around £500,000 for the fixtures, which were among more than 180 slots put up for auction by the British Horseracing Board last month for the first time in history