KING’S STAND STAKES (GROUP 1)

WHEN the rain came it looked as if conditions in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes would be ideal for the very speedy northern mare Mecca’s Angel, so impressive in the Nunthorpe at York last August.

In fact, they were just about perfect. Sadly for her backers - there was a shoal of money down to 6/4 favourite - the old saying about horses not being machines was never underlined more brutally as she ran no sort of race, dropping right out in the closing stages to beat only one home.

Victory went to Clive Cox’s 4/1 second-favourite Profitable, who looks a much-improved sprinter this year and was following up his narrow victory over the mare at Haydock.

He pushed her towards the far rails that day but needed no assistance here, keeping on strongly to hold outsiders Cotai Glory and Goken by a neck and a length after leading for Adam Kirby as they hit the furlong pole.

Profitable has won three out of three this term, starting with the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket. The last two winners of this went on to take the Nunthorpe and the Prix de l’Abbaye respectively.

“Yes, but the way he toughed it out on easy ground, we may have to think about supplementing him for the July Cup over six,” Cox said. The trainer won the Newmarket feature with Lethal Force three years ago and has done extremely well since his days as a journeyman jumps jockey.

It was an unforgettable day for Kirby, whose girlfriend Megan Evans gave birth to a son, Charlie, earlier on.

“I can’t put into words what it means to me,” the jockey said. “Thanks to Megan for letting me off. She’s managed so well on her own because she was in quite a bit of pain.”

As more than one wag pointed out, Megan probably had to push harder, and for rather longer, than her boyfriend did.