Deauville: Spot Plays for Aug. 10

It’s another banner Sunday at Deauville, with the Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1) highlighting a card including four black-type races. Let’s try to find the value beyond the obvious favorites.

Race 1, 7:56 a.m. ET: Prix Moonlight Cloud

#8 Daylight (6-1) would be a generous price if she goes off anywhere near her morning line. The cutback to about six furlongs here is the key. Two of her marquee efforts came at this course and distance last summer, a victory in the Prix de Cabourg (G3) and a third to top colts in the Prix Morny (G1). The daughter of Earthlight concluded her juvenile campaign with two runner-up efforts at this trip, notably in the Cheveley Park (G1) to future Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) star Lake Victoria. Daylight’s stamina limitations have been exposed in Group 1s this season, but she wasn’t disgraced when sixth versus males in the Prix Jean Prat (G1) in her latest.  

Race 2, 8:31 a.m. ET: Prix du Cercle

Irish shipper #11 Songhai (7-1) exits a rallying third in the Sapphire (G2) at the Curragh, where she chased home the classy Arizona Blaze and Mgheera. Arizona Blaze was the near-miss runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) as well as the recent Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot. Songhai’s previous stakes placings also encode a useful level of form, and she still has upside with just six starts under her belt. Trainer Johnny Murtagh has given her an entry in the Prix de l’Abbaye (G1) on Arc Day, revealing his view of her potential on the five-furlong scene.

Race 4, 10:05 a.m. ET: Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1)

Defending champion #7 Lazzat (2-1) should be difficult to dethrone in this about 6 1/2-furlong sprint on the straightaway. Yet a few of his rivals will likely be overpriced, making for “each-way” possibilities.

Perhaps the most intriguing is #6 Topgear (12-1), who was a 6-1 chance versus Lazzat in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee (G1) at Royal Ascot. It all went wrong for Topgear that day as he lost both front shoes and trailed home last behind Lazzat. But he’s eligible to turn the page back at Deauville, where he sports a 3-2-1-0 career mark. 

Highly regarded by trainer Christopher Head, the son of top sire Wootton Bassett had won three straight prior to his Royal Ascot debacle. In last fall’s Prix du Pin (G3) and the May 25 Prix du Palais-Royal (G3), Topgear beat #3 Sajir (15-1), another capable of running better than his odds imply.

#2 Beauvatier (15-1), third in last year’s de Gheest, hinted that he could be poised for a move forward after finally ending a losing skid in the Prix du Ris-Orangis (G3). Once a win machine as a juvenile, the Lope de Vega colt found life tougher at three in 2024, but he still placed in such majors as the Prix Jean Prat and Prix de la Foret (G1) along with the de Gheest. Beauvatier was also a close fourth in last October’s British Champions Sprint (G1). 

Race 6, 11:15 a.m. ET: Prix Daphnis (G3)

Although #11 Silius (3-1) was twice runner-up to the brilliant Maranoa Charlie earlier this season, and unbeaten British invader #8 Scoville (4-1) could be anything, #12 Tito Mo Cen (20-1) has the look of a live longshot. 

An Uncle Mo half-brother to last year’s Foret queen Ramatuelle, Tito Mo Cen opened his career with a pair of convincing wins on the Chantilly Polytrack. The Victoria Head trainee did not build on those performances when switching to turf, but he was also trying slightly longer distances. Shortening up to a metric mile here could help, and pedigree suggests that this might be more in his wheelhouse. Unless he really is more effective on all-weather than on turf, Tito Mo Cen has a license to get involved at a price.