Almanzor and more: the stars set to give fans a Deau-thrill

Top-class action kicks off this weekend at France's summer retreat of Deauville, while just down the road picture-postcard Clairefontaine will also be packed with racegoers. Here, Racing Post French correspondent Scott Burton identifies the equine and human stars who could bloom on the Cote Fleurie . . .

Ascot rematch: Qemah v Usherette

This Sunday – Prix Rothschild (Group 1, 3yo+ fillies & mares, 1m)

The tally in terms of Group 1 success may look a little lop-sided – Godolphin's Usherette is yet to strike at the highest level while Al Shaqab's Qemah will be chasing a third – but the gap between the two in last month's Duke of Cambridge Stakes may have been wider than truly reflects the differential in talent given Mickael Barzalona had to wait an age for a gap to appear.

Qemah backed up her Royal Ascot success here 12 months ago but the two home favourites are unlikely to have it all their own way with 14 of the initial 23 entries trained in Britain or Ireland.

Speed summit: Caravaggio v Signs Of Blessing

Sunday, August 5 – Prix Maurice de Gheest (Group 1, 3yo+, 6½f)

This has traditionally been one of the most profitable prizes on offer for the anglophone visitors, with nine of the last 20 editions going to Britain or Ireland.

Having lost his unbeaten record in the July Cup, Caravaggio will have an extra half furlong to engage top gear and looks to continue the early dominance of three-year-old sprinters over their elders.

Signs Of Blessing chalked one up for the home team in 2016 with an all-the-way success and trainer Francois Rohaut will be hoping he can secure the double now back at his favourite track, after the six-year-old failed to give his running under trying circumstances at Ascot.

Add in the Wesley Ward-trained Bound For Nowhere and the international intrigue is there for all to see.

Juvenile Paradise

Senga: beaten on debut at Deauville but progressed to land the Prix de Diane Longines last month

While much is rightly made of the high-quality Pattern racing littered throughout the month, Deauville is also where the big French players tend to take the wraps off their most promising two-year-olds.

The last two runnings of the Prix des Marettes (Tuesday, August 8) have produced three individual Group 1-winning fillies in Antonoe, Qemah and Senga, while its companion race for colts, the Prix de Crevecoeur, has also thrown up the Freddy Head-trained pair Charm Spirit and Anodin, both of whom were beaten here on debut.

Also look out for the Prix de la Reboursiere and the Prix de Montaigu on Tuesday, August 22.

Golden Mile: Time for Le Brivido's graduation?

Sunday, August 13 – Prix Jacques le Marois (Group 1, 3yo+ colts & fillies, 1m)

Last year Ribchester followed Kingman in becoming the second horse in three years to back up a fine run in the Sussex Stakes with success here just 18 days later.

With a week less between the two races this time, Richard Fahey would be a brave man to attempt the feat again with Ribchester, a comment that also applies to his potential main rival Churchill.

What can be said with more conviction is that Andre Fabre is set to be represented by Le Brivido – who, like Ribchester last year, won the seven furlong Jersey Stakes en route to Deauville – a colt who came within a short head of Classic glory over course and distance in April.

Rouget begins the countdown to the Arc

Tuesday, August 15

A bank holiday blockbuster with the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano followed swiftly by the Group 3 Prix Gontaut-Biron.

Jean-Claude Rouget has identified the Guillaume d'Ornano as the ideal comeback race for dual Classic winner Brametot before he sets off on an ambitious autumn tour due to feature the Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Guineas third Al Wukair and Recoletos – who filled the same spot behind Brametot in the Prix du Jockey Club – are set to ensure Rouget's charge doesn't enjoy an easy stroll by the sea.

The Gontaut-Biron could be freighted with even more significance, as it is here Rouget plans to give Almanzor his delayed seasonal debut, before also heading to Leopardstown and Chantilly.

Morny glory

Sunday, August 19 – Prix Morny (Group 1, 2yo colts & fillies, 6f)

Connections of Different League celebrate Royal Ascot successCredit: Caroline Norris

Different League floored some big reputations when emerging from two low-key wins in the French provinces to claim Royal Ascot success in the Albany Stakes.

Rajasinghe also produced something of a giant-killing performance in the Coventry and trainer Richard Spencer has long had an eye on this race, which rarely attracts a huge field but can usually be relied upon to identify a top-class winner.

Sharing the bill on the penultimate Sunday of the meeting is the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet for older fillies and mares, while a week later the party comes to a close with the Grand Prix de Deauville (Sunday, August 27).

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