Deauville: Spot Plays for Aug. 3

Deauville is unique among European racecourses in that, like the American boutique meets of Saratoga and Del Mar, it serves as the singular focal point in August for its respective region (in this case, France).

While Deauville holds racing throughout the year, it shines most in August, when Parisians want to escape the City of Light for a month's holiday to enjoy the beach, fashionable casino gaming, and food, plus some outstanding racing.

Racing at Deauville will be held on 16 days during August, beginning Sunday and running through Aug. 30. Half of those dates will feature at least one Group race, with Sundays (like much of the French racing calendar) the best day to catch the top-level horses.

With French racing added to the TwinSpires.com menu last year, now is as good a time as any to dive into one of the most prestigious race meetings in the world. I'll be providing some periodic selections in this space over the next four weeks, so let's get started with Sunday's card featuring four Group events.

Race 5: Prix Rothschild (G1), 10:40 a.m. ET

The featured event is a straight-mile test for fillies and mares, which has attracted a baker's dozen. The three-year-olds Mandanaba and January are the logical threats on class while getting seven pounds from their elders, but another sophomore is also interesting at a higher price.

#13 Matilda (6-1) invades from Germany, usually not a hotbed of horses that can win Group 1s in Britain, France, or Ireland. However, the daughter of Soldier Hollow slammed colts in that nation's first classic, the May 18 German 2000 Guineas (G2), by 6 1/2 lengths. She was the first filly to win the race in more than half a century, and only the third since the war.

Privately acquired by American sportsman Peter Brant after that win at Cologne, Matilda debuts here for Francis-Henri Graffard, who currently trains Europe's top older horse, Calandagan. If she can reproduce that effort against this field, she can be competitive.

Race 7: Prix Six Perfections (G3), 11:50 a.m. ET

Graffard, who is now the principal trainer for the famed Aga Khan stable, could also strike in this seven-furlong test for two-year-old fillies with #1 Narissa (4-1). The daughter of Siyouni looked very smart winning on debut by eight lengths at Saint-Cloud on June 3, and presumably remains with significant upside.