Marie-Francoise Sunday Selections for 10th August 2025

Marie-Francoise Sunday Selections from Deauville

Moonlight Cloud Listed Stakes 12.56
Cacofonix
Oui, the first race on Deauville’s card must be between Misunderstood and Cacofonix, and it is Cacofonix that I prefer. We last saw him in the Group One Prix Jean Prat on this track in July, and although this is the shorter trip than he is usually racing, it is a big drop in grade, so I would expect him to be very close. Misunderstood has not been seen since his run in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains in May, where only one horse followed him home, so is very much trying to resurrect the season here, though Oisin Murphy has been given the ride which is a plus point to me. Burhan won a course and distance maiden here last year, and Kerkila is also on my list, but I think it will be Cacofonix to win.

Prix du Cercle – Don Juan Cuneo Solari (Listed) 1.31
Redorange (nap)
The Prix du Cercle can go to Clive Cox with Redorange, and although it has been Vicious Harry who was high in the market this week, I prefer the English raider. Also making the trip over to Deauville is Clarendon House, and although I think he is a very smart Sprinter on his day, he has become reluctant to race always non, and has played that trick in his last two races. You might want to say if he starts he wins but non, I will not take that chance. Redorange is very, very consistent and can be winning this under the 2024 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Rossa Ryan, with Vicious Harry to come second best.

Grand Handicap de Deauville 2.15
Bullace
Oui, I think that I will be on Bullace for the Grand Handicap de Deauville, and bring the hat-trick up for Carlos & Yann Lerner. Of course, this Toronado gelding started with Ralph Beckett in Angleterre, but made the move over to France in 2023, after making a couple of races in Meydan also, but something has brought him on this year, with wins at Chantilly and Vichy in a Listed race, and with Christophe Soumillon on him again, I think he can win. Caramelito was fifth in the Prix Messidor, which was a Group 3 race, so has to be on my list, while Babakool can also be in the race. Bullace to finish strongly in the final 300 metres under the brilliant Christophe Soumillon, and make the hat-trick.

ARC Maurice de Gheest – Fonds European de l’Elevage (Group 1) 3.05
Woodshauna (nb)
Oo lala! What a race this is, the Prix Maurice de Gheest, and it really should be between Lazzat and Woodshauna, with maybe Shadow Of Light also in the places. It was a very, very good run for Lazzat when winning the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, and with the sun fully out in Deauville, the course conditions should be perfect to him, though his form includes wins on good to soft too. D’accord, but this three year old Woodshauna is looking very special, and it was the course win here in the Prix Jean Prat that is in my mind, and also I can see Christophe Soumillon using his tactics of the late run again to take on Lazzat, who I think will be taken forward by James Doyle, as he did in the Royal Ascot race. Kevin Ryan’s Inisherin and Charlie Appleby’s Shadow Of Light are also on my list, but I think there is more to come from the exciting Woodshauna, who can pip Lazzat on the line.

Prix Daphnis – Samuel Liberman (Group 3) 4.15
Scoville
I will be taking the chance that Scoville will be winning this Group 3. Of course, Christophe Ferland’s Silius is a very, very good Dubawi colt, but William Haggas’s Scoville made such an impression in his two starts so far, that I think he will again go to the front under Tom Marquand and make them all try to chase him for the line. Although Scoville’s races have just been in the lower grade, while Silius is proven in the Group levels, I cannot think that we have not seen the best of Scoville yet. A very nice Group 3 on this second Sunday of the Festival de Barriere Deauville, and I will take my chance with the exciting Scoville.