The G1 Prix Rothschild (1600m) at Deauville on Sunday (3 August) signals the start of the month-long festival at the chic Normandy coastal resort.
The first of five Group 1s at France's extended version of Royal Ascot is regarded as 'the ladies Prix Jacques Le Marois', for those trainers preferring their fillies to avoid taking on the colts over the same straight 1600m course in the festival's showpiece in a fortnight's time.
Christophe Head, son of Freddy who trained four-time Prix Rothschild winner Goldikova, supplemented Start Of Day on Thursday (31 July).
"She ran well in England (fifth in Royal Ascot's G2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes, 1594m) last time. She gets the 1600 (metres) no problem and the aim is to get her ready for the Prix Jean Romanet (G1, 2000m), which is her main summer objective," explained Head.
There are high hopes for another French contender, Godspeed - who bounced back from a poor run in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas, 1600m) to land the G2 Prix de Sandringham (1600m) at Chantilly in June.
"Unfortunately, she had a dreadful draw (13/13) in the French Guineas, but she showed her true class in her next race," reflected Yann Lerner, co-trainer with his father Carlos.
Francis-Henri Graffard hopes to continue his fine season with Mandanaba, stablemate of G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2392m) hero Calandagan.
Third in the French 1000 Guineas she drops back in trip after just missing out on a place in the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks, 2100m).
Graffard is also represented by Matilda, having her first run since moving to her new French trainer following her explosive win at odds of 25/1 against the colts in the G2 Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas, 1600m).
John and Thady Gosden, reeling from Field Of Gold's shock odds-on defeat in the G1 Sussex Stakes (1609m) at Goodwood this week, send over Crimson Advocate, third in the G1 Falmouth Stakes (1600m), and Spiritual.
While Crimson Advocate may not be ideally suited by the forecast soft ground, that is not the case for the Karl Burke-trained Fallen Angel.
Last year's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas (1600m) heroine deliberately skipped Thursday's G1 Nassau Stakes (1984m) at Goodwood for the more suitable underfoot conditions in France.
"She's in great form," declared her owner Wathnan Racing's advisor Richard Brown.
"Even though we're keen to try her over 2000 metres, we know that on softer ground, she has enough speed to run very well over the mile," Burke said.
Fallen Angel, according to her trainer, is "getting a bit lazy with age" and so now runs equipped with blinkers to keep her mind on the job.
Aidan O'Brien is double handed with Exactly, sixth in the G1 Coronation Stakes (1594m), and the more fancied January, runner-up in the Falmouth Stakes.
"A mile is really her trip. We're getting closer step by step. It's always a little frustrating to come so close, but she ran very well. She's improving, and we're on the right path," the master Irish trainer observed after January's last run.
O'Brien's son Donnacha sends over Atsila, over four lengths further back when sixth in the Falmouth Stakes.
Pina Sonata meanwhile is taking a shot at a Group 1 for the first time after two wins in far more modest company.
