THE RAIN may not have suited punters but it was manna from heaven for Mecca's Angel.

Had the clouds not opened, three hours before race time, trainer Michael Dods could easily have pulled his defending champion out of the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes.

The filly needed give in the ground and York's Knavesmire had not seen rain for nearly seven days.

But as the drizzle descended and the punters disappeared under the stands, Dods was able to walk the track with a knowing smile.

The going changed from 'good to firm' to good and was soft enough now to set up Mecca's Angel's second consecutive victory in the Group One sprint on the penultimate day of the 'Welcome to Yorkshire' Ebor Festival..

Under the guidance of Boroughbridge jockey Paul Mulrennan, she duly crossed the winning line two lengths clear of the chasing pack which was led by 2-1 favourite Limato.

Dods, whose stables are in Darlington, said: "I had been worried all week but when it started raining I was happy. The way she won was breathtaking - better than last year's performance."

Mecca's Angel will now be sold for stud at the end of the current season but is lined-up for one final race on Champions Day at Ascot in October.

Barsanti, meanwhile, gave trainer Roger Varian, jockey Andrea Atzeni, and owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid a second winner at the festival when taking the Sky Bet First Race Special Stakes in a tight finish. The trio had also teamed up to win the Juddmonte International with Postponed on Wednesday afternoon.

Varian said: "It is very satisfying to back up Postponed's win with another good win. We are not a one horse yard and we have lots of owners to deliver for."

The Group 2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup featured a re-match between Clever Cookie and Curbyourenthusiasm who had finished first and second on the Knavesmire in the Yorkshire Cup three months ago.

Neither made an impact over this longer trip of 2m and the race was won by 9-2 shot Quest for More, owned HRH Sultan Ahmad Shah of Malaysia, who led from early on and held off a late challenge from Pallasator.

By the start of the third race, the Sky Bet City of York Stakes, the going had been changed to 'good' due to the rain.

Godolphin fielded three of the eleven runners - Charming Thought, Flash Fire, and Librisa Breeze - yet all failed to place. Instead, it was 15/8 favourite Nemoralia, dropped in class after a modest showing in a French Group 1, who gave jockey Jamie Spencer his third festival winner in as many days following victories on Syphax and Queen Kindly.

"She's a class act," said Spencer, who was riding because regular jockey Frankie Dettori was unable to make the weight of 8st 6lb. "This is an important week so, if you get your chance, you have to make the best of it. So far, there have been no mess-ups."

Trainer Jeremy Noseda said: "She makes a trainer's life very easy and is a pleasure to have around."

Frankie Dettori landed his first winner of the meeting on 15-8 favourite Rivet in Britain's richest maiden race, the £60,000 British Stallion Studs EBF Convival Maiden Stakes.

The final race of the afternoon, the Nationwide Accident Repair Services Stakes, was won by 5-1 joint favourite Arcanada, ridden by Richard Kingscote.