The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 18th August 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Deauville and Pontefract

Deauville

Sumbe Prix Kergorlay (Group 2) 12.58
Double Major
The front-running Double Major can land this Group 2 for Christophe Ferland. This Japanese bred gelding won over 14 furlongs at ParisLongchamp last month, doing all the work, but never in doubt of that Group 2 win in the Prix Maurice de Nieuil. More of the same here, though on quicker ground, which brings Alessio into the reckoning. Double Major had Alessio 2 lengths back in fourth on that ParisLongchamp run, but might get closer this time. Goya Senora is the fast finishing type that could take on this pair at the business end, and is the each-way angle, but Double Major to prevail

Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) 1.33
Mqse De Sevigne (nap)
Andre Fabre can take Group One honours here with Mqse De Sevigne. Unbeaten this season, this Siyouni filly has returned an even better model this term, and found plenty for pressure when fending off a late charge from Horizon Dore in the Prix d’Ispahan back in May. She backed up that Group 1 win with success here at Deauville in the Prix Rothschild to double the Group One tally for the season, and now goes for the hat-trick. Blue Rose Cen and Irish raider American Sonja are the ones to make Mqse De Sevigne work for her money, but she’s very hard to oppose, at a price to match

Sumbe Prix Morny (Group 1) 2.50
Arabie
A red hot renewal for this important Group One Juvenile race, with plenty of British and Irish interest in Shareholder, Arabian Dusk, Whistlejacket and our selection, Arabie. Karl Burke is double-handed with Arabie and Shareholder, with connections of Shareholder aiming at this race after his win in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, Arabie has already clocked up two wins here in France at Chantilly, and that’s a plus point in his favour. Irish raider Whistlejacket has had a busy season and this will be his sixth start, so all that effort might just catch up with him, so Simon & Ed Crisfords’ Arabian Dusk could be the one to watch, after her win in a Group 2 Fillies’ Stakes at Newmarket. Arabie and supercool Jim Crowley to notch up the French hat-trick for in-form Karl Burke

Sumbe Prix Alec Head (Group 2) (Fillies) 3.25
Friendly Soul (nb)
John & Thady Gosden hold the key to this with Friendly Soul, who is likely to make a big effort from the front in this Group 2 contest. Last seen employing those tactics to good effect in the Group 3 Valiant Stakes at Ascot, she had plenty left up Ascot’s stiff finish, so Kieran Shoemark is sure to run the same playbook here. Home hope Candala put in a good shift in the Group 2 Prix de Malleret last time out, form franked by second placed Mosaique winning here at Deauville last week, so can give the selection the most to think about, but Friendly Soul is the one to follow

Pontefract

EBF Sky Bet Sunday Series Flying Fillies’ Stakes (Listed) 4.45
Rage Of Bamby
This looks a straight showdown between Adaay In Devon and Rage Of Bamby for Pontefract’s Sunday feature. Rod Millman’s Adaay In Devon has been a model of consistency this term, with eight starts providing three visits to the winner’s enclosure and a couple of runners-up spots too, but that’s meant a busy time, so preference is given to Eve Johnson Houghton’s Rage Of Bamby. This Saxon Warrior sired filly was last, and at the other end of the field from Adaay In Devon on her first start of this season, but regained the winning thread at York last month in a pretty hot Class 2 handicap, and can repeat the trick here. The speedy Rage Of Bamby to score with conditions to suit

The Mandarin