By Sean Cronin
Soleil Marin (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}) broke through at Cholet, in his third start last September, and closed his juvenile campaign with further wins at Deauville Oct. 19 and at Saint-Cloud Nov. 18. Acquired by Godolphin after registering a first black-type score back at Saint-Cloud in the Mar. 23 Listed Prix Francois Mathet on sophomore return, he enhanced his burgeoning portfolio with a game rally to prevail in Sunday's G3 Prix Noailles at Chantilly. Well away to stalk the leaders in fourth as Galipad (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) set the tempo, the 29-10 second favourite was angled into clear runway for his bid passing the two pole and fought bravely under a final-furlong drive to deny Akihiro (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) by a head in a thrilling bobber, with Normandy Eagle (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) 1 1/2 lengths adrift in third. “We bought the horse on the advice of the trainer, it is a great result and we're delighted,” revealed Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard. “He's a nice, tough horse and Mr Fabre thinks he will stay 12 furlongs in time. He holds an entry in the [July 14 G1] Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, but he's not in the [June 4 G1] Prix du Jockey Club. Of course, supplementing him for the latter is a possibility, but there is no rush to make a decision.” Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, felt the lack of a prior outing this term contributed to the runner-up's undoing and added, “It's a little frustrating to be beaten so narrowly, but the winner had the benefit of a previous run and our horse was making his seasonal debut. Before making any decision, we'll see what the trainer thinks and how the horse come out of the race. I imagine he might come back in a race like the [May 8 G2] Prix Greffulhe [at Saint-Cloud].”
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX NOAILLES-G3, €80,000, CHY, 4-16, 3yo, 10 1/2fT, 2:08.34, gd.
1–@SOLEIL MARIN (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Kendargent (Fr)
1st Dam: Sousmarine (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Underwater, by Theatrical (Ire)
3rd Dam: Sea Hill, by Seattle Slew
O-Godolphin SNC; B-Ecurie Peregrine SAS (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 7-5-0-0, €111,680. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Akihiro (Jpn), 128, c, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Baahama (Ire), by Anabaa. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (JPN); T-Andre Fabre. €16,000.
3–Normandy Eagle (Ire), 128, c, 3, New Approach (Ire)–Secrete (Fr), by Cape Cross (Ire). (€350,000 Ylg '15 ARAUG). O/B-Ecurie des Monceaux (IRE); T-Freddy Head. €12,000.
Margins: HD, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 2.90, 0.40, 7.10.
Also Ran: Galipad (GB), Amazing (Fr), Saldier (Fr), Go Fast (Ire).
Soleil Marin, kin to the 2-year-old filly Setsuko (Fr) (Shamardal), is the leading performer produced by Sousmarine (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), a winning half-sister to G3 Prix de Lutece third Investissement (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) out of G2 Prix de Malleret runner-up Underwater (Theatrical {Ire}). Underwater is herself a half-sister to MG1SP G2 Prix de Malleret victress Legerete (Rahy), who produced MGSP Listed Prix Matchem winner Pilote (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), and to the dam of G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-winning sire Falco (Pivotal {GB}) and G3 Prix Eclipse heroine Iron Lips (GB) (Iron Mask). The family also includes G1 Prix Lupin-winning sire Groom Dancer (Blushing Groom {Fr}), G1SW 'TDN Rising Star' Plumania (GB) (Anabaa) and MG1SW dual Japanese champion Kinshasa No Kiseki (Aus) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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