FITNESS certainly played a role in the result of the Prix Noailles, which Andre Fabre was winning for the 11th time at Chantilly on Sunday. Soleil Marin was probably not the first choice from the stable but ran out a game winner of this Group 3 race.

He had been bought by Godolphin after he won a listed race for Fabre at Saint-Cloud in March. Ridden by Mickael Barzalona, Soleil Marin led one out before being collared by stablemate and hot favourite Akihiro.

The writing looked on the wall but the son of Kendargent rallied to retake the advantage with 50 metres left to run to win his fourth race in a row.

The winning distance was a head and Normandy Eagle ran on to be third, just under a length in front of the pacemaker Galipad.

Lisa-Jane Graffard represents Goldolphin in France and she reported: “We are delighted and bought the colt on the advice of his trainer (Fabre).

“He believes that Soleil Marin will stay further and he has been entered in the Grand Prix de Paris. He’s courageous and a fighter.”

Soleil Marin was bred by Elisabeth Fabre and raced in her colours until after he won the Listed Prix Francois Mathet.

Akihiro, tasting defeat for the first time, was given a couple of slaps by Maxime Guyon halfway up the straight to keep his mind on the job.

This appeared to have done the trick but he was pegged back in the dying stages of the 10 and a half furlong event.

The Wertheimer racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau was on hand and he said: “Of course we are a little disappointed to have lost but he was the only colt in the race making his seasonal debut. He was beaten by a horse truly on form.

“We will learn a little more about Akihiro next time out and he will run in another trial, although I don’t know which one.”

Akihiro is entered in the Investec Derby and currently a 25/1 chance.