Marsha lands the Prix de l'Abbaye Marsha claimed Group One glory for Sir Mark Prescott in the Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye at Chantilly. Twice a winner at Listed level earlier in the year, the three-year-old filly was last seen finishing second to the reopposing Just Glamorous in a Group Three over this course and distance three weeks ago. Just as he had that day, the Ron Harris-trained Just Glamorous attempted to make all the running, but he was a spent force heading inside the last of five furlongs as dual Nunthorpe heroine Mecca's Angel and King's Stand winner Profitable moved to the front. That pair briefly looked like fighting out the finish, but the Elite Racing Club-owned Marsha (16-1) came from further back to beat both in the hands of Luke Morris. Washington DC finished powerfully to beat Mecca's Angel to the runner-up spot, with Profitable weakening out of contention. Morris said: "The boss had freshened her up for this, we've always had high hopes for her and this is the icing on the cake." Brian Pothecary was representing the 10,000-strong members of the Elite Racing Club, and said: "I'm very lucky to represent Elite here today, as one of three coachloads of owners who were selected by ballot to attend. "I doubt whether she will run again this year and I very much hope she stays in training as a four-year-old." Michael Dods will take his time before committing Mecca's Angel to what would be the final start of her career in the British Champions Sprint on October 15. He said: "She's run a good race. I'm not using the ground as an excuse. I don't think she likes to be crowded, and maybe that had something to do with it. "We'll see how she comes home, we'll give her the full week to get home and relax and then we'll decide about Ascot. "If she is in good form and has a good week the following week we'll seriously think about Champions Day. I'd love to see her over six furlongs at some stage."
