The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 13th August 2023

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Deauville

Circus Maximus Prix Francois Boutin (Group 3) 12.58
Evade (nap)
First blood in the Black Type races can go to the home team with Andre Fabre’s Evade. The Wootton Bassett colt looks a striking one with his black coat, and wouldn’t have to improve much from his win in a Maiden Stakes here last month to land this Group 3. The step up to 7 furlongs should suit, and there’s the notable booking of Oisin Murphy on the reins. The one to beat

Prix Minerve (Group 3) (Fillies) 1.33
Tasmania (nb)
Francis-Henri Graffard holds the key to this Group 3 for Fillies with Tasmania, whose fine third in the French Oaks is the stand out form here. Finishing just a short-head behind Aidan O’Brien’s Never Ending Story in that hot Group 1, won by the smart Blue Rose Cen, these are calmer waters and she’s expected to be right there to make it three wins from four starts in her Classic season. British and Irish raiders, Crack Of Light and Scarlett O’Hara rate the main dangers, but Tasmania should have too much class at this level

Prix Nureyev (Listed) 2.49
Bold Act
Charlie Appleby is double-handed here with Victory Dance and Bold Act, but it’s Bold Act, the mount of William Buick, who makes most appeal. Third in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot, form which has been well franked by Derby sixth Waipiro, he put in a decent shift in the Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud last time out. Bold Act drops in Grade here to a Listed contest, and has to top the shortlist for the Champion Trainer

Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois (Group 1) 3.26
Big Rock
The feature can go to the home team, as Christopher Head’s star colt lines up against his elders for this important Group 1 contest. Only finding the fast finishing Ace Impact too good in the French Derby back in June, when going for a four-timer, he’s been freshened up for this and can return to winning ways for the in-form trainer. There’s a whole crowd of dangers, not least British raiders Triple Time and Inspiral, though Big Rock gets weight from both of these, and a home team including Erevann, Good Guess and French 2,000 Guineas winner, Marhaba Ya Sanafi. A cracking race in store, but the classy Big Rock is the one to follow

Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club (Group 3) 4.00
Place Du Carrousel
The last of the Group races can go to Andre Fabre’s Place Du Carrousel, who drops markedly in Grade here to a Group 3 contest. Last seen finishing fifth of seven in the Group 1 Prix Ganay, a result better than it looks on bare paper in a tight finish, this looks a whole lot easier, and Mickael Barzalona will be hoping to add to this Lope De Vega filly’s tally. She’s already taken the scalp of the smart Nashwa in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera at the end of last season, so more than capable at this level. Respected

The Mandarin