Deauville’s Prix Rothschild, a mile Group One for fillies, begins a month of top-class Sunday action at the northern France track.
This year’s renewal looks red hot as reigning champ Amazing Maria is as big as 18/1 to repeat the feat.
That’d be a fantastic price had she not disappointed last time out in Newmarket’s Falmouth Stakes as she doesn’t arrive in the same form.
More likely is that this year’s renewal is stronger thanks to a classy crop of three-year-olds.
Coronation Stakes winner Qemah heads them at 5/2 but encounters far faster ground than at Ascot and has done all her winning with some soft in the going description.
That’s not to say she won’t relish better ground, but at that price she can be taken on as there’s no shortage of alternatives.
It should be good ground in France after a dry few weeks and no significant rain forecast, and that’s much more up the street of impressive Falmouth Stakes winner Alice Springs and last season’s Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lumiere.
The Falmouth form took a knock with the second running poorly at Goodwood, but Alice Springs did break the track record on the day and there’s no arguing against that.
Lumiere, though, looked like a potential top notcher last season and put a shocking run in the Guineas behind her when absolutely bolting up at Newmarket’s July meeting to prove she had trained on at three.
She also proved her stamina for a mile that day, which is an asset in this company.
It was interesting she employed less prominent tactics on the day after trying to make all in the Guineas, and that could be the key to unlocking her best form.
9/2 looks quite tight though as she definitely has something to prove at his level.
It’s impossible not to like the French filly VOLTA with the idea she’ll improve for better ground – and the best form form of her family is on quick ground so there’s every reason to believe so.
She bolted up in a Group Two at Chantilly (watch below) before attempting to defy a wide draw and come from way back to win the Prix De Diane, doing really well to take third despite a troubled passage.
She’s got a real turn of foot so this drop in trip should suit, and she’s a nice price at 7/1.
She looks the value in a wide open race.
1pt win Volta @7/1, 15:15 Deauville, Sunday
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