Marie-Francoise’s Sunday Selections for 23rd August 2026

Marie-Francoise’s Sunday Selections from Deauville & Caroline’s Naas Pick

Deauville

Sumbe Prix du Calvados (Group 2) (Fillies) 12.58
Woot Woot
Oh yes, I must be on Christopher Head’s Woot Woot for this Group 2 race. Maybe it will be the Irish filly, Dee’s Funny Girl that can be the one also to make it a very good contest, but this is so much the softer ground than she had in the Fillies race at Ascot the last time, that I prefer Woot Woot with her course experience. Le Bon Temps Roule won here last week, and back here for this 1400 metre distance can be the big danger. Maybe this is not the strongest race for a Group 2, but Edouard Monfort’s Yuquot has some racing here before, but possibly this ground is too much soft, so I have to trust Christophe Soumillon to be ahead of Le Bon Temps Roule and Dee’s Funny Girl to win this Prix du Cavados.

Sumbe Prix Kergorlay (Group 2) 1.33
Santorini Star (nap)
Oohlala, I am very very excited to see Santorini Star in this Prix Kergorlay. She was so so unlucky not to stay in front of Caballo De Mar in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at ParisLongchamp in May, where she was always at the front of all the runners until the last 200 metres, but maybe she can win on Sunday at Deauville. D’accord, but Christophe Ferland’s Double Major has won this race in 2024 & 2025, so must be given respect in this attempt to make it three non? Plus, it has been Goya Senora that has been second to Double Major in both those races, so the raider from Angleterre, with Tom Marquand must be very aware of their record in this Prix Kergorlay. Maintenant, I will be very excited to see Santorini Star win this Group 2, and Double Major will be the one that will make her work hard non?

Sumbe Prix Morny (Group 1) 2.50
Kosuma
Oui, it is the Prix Morny that is the feature on Sunday at Deauville, and it has be one of the very very best races for the Juveniles anywhere across Europe. And this is a very good race, but maybe this year it is the ground that can make the difference to some of these colts and fillies. With the conditions of the courses almost all on the good ground this summer, the softer ground at Deauville can be having the effect on this Group One. I must have the most respect for Simon & Ed Crisfords’ Senorita Bonita, but this will be the new experience for her non? plus, this may be the same for some of the Irish horses too, as it must be that they have all the racing experience on good ground this summer. D’accord, it is Andre Fabre’s Kosuma that I believe will be the best on this soft ground, with her win in the Prix de Cabourg here three weeks ago the best piece of form, avec Francis-Henri Graffard’s Drazinda also to prefer this ground. Clive Cox also has the very exciting Orthodox to line up, but it is Great Barrier Reef that Caroline believes to be the best two year old colt, although Ryan Moore is on Man’s Best Friend. But it is Kosuma that I must back for Andre Fabre and Maxime Guyon, with Great Barrier Reef the big one to come second.

Sumbe Prix Jean et Louis Romanet (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) 3.25
Diamond Necklace
Oohlala, what an other chance to see the brilliant Diamond Necklace back in France. She has the most fantastic record, never to be beaten in all her six races, and she will be the big favourite to win again non? This ground for her will be okay, as she has won the Prix de Diane at Chantilly in this season on soft ground, so, this winner of the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp is the best of the three year old fillies that I can see in all of Europe. Christophe Ferland’s Aventure is always going to be high at the top of your list, and Francis-Henri Graffard’s Cankoura can also run well, but it is Diamond Necklace they all must beat.

Naas

Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) 4.00
Havana Anna (nb)
Oh this is a very good contest for the grade, but I’m telling yuzz that it’s Havana Anna for me. Something seems to click when Donnacha O’Brien sends her to Naas, and now she’s three from three on this County Kildare track, winning the Goffs Lacken Stakes here in May, before a very good fourth in the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. That’s a fine piece of form, and just 2 lengths behind Jaysella’s and my nap, the brilliant Venetian Sun, so I do find Havana Anna easy to back in a Group 3. Of course, Karl Burke’s Soul Love won here the last day, finding the best of the ground under Pierre-Louis Jamin, so she has to be considered, while second in that Listed contest was Joseph O’Brien’s Dancing Saxon, and I do think she could be a big danger if continuing to progress. Havana Anna to win, but Dancing Saxon and Soul Love are sure to be making life tough for the selection.