Prix Ebury victory for Soleil Marin as Godolphin gain first and second

Soleil Marin won the first Pattern race of the France’s new season, the G3 Prix Exbury, at Saint-Cloud on Sunday, 17 March, when beating stable companion Magny Cours.

The two Andre Fabre-trained horses were among the nine runners in the 10-furlong race on heavy ground.

Soleil Marin, who finished last of seven in the Prix Exbury last year in a snow storm, broke well and raced in fifth under Pierre-Charles Boudot. The five-year-old son of Kendargent improved to fourth after half-way and followed Magny Cours in challenging in the straight.

Four-year-old Medaglia d’Oro colt, Magny Cours, was slightly slow into stride before racing keenly initially with Mickael Barzalona. He was settled in seventh before switching out wide turning for home and challenging in the straight. Magny Cours came through to lead over a furlong out, but was not able to hold the strong surge of Soleil Marin who went to the front in the closing stages and won going away by a length and a quarter in 2m 17.29s. The third, Air Pilot, finished three lengths behind Magny Cours.

This was Soleil Marin’s sixth victory and Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard reported, “It is fantastic to win the first Group race of the year in France.

“Soleil Marin finished tailed off in this race last year when it was snowing heavily and it looks like he is coming back to his best now which is great.

“I think this was a career-best performance by him – he had a really good comeback race on the all-weather at Chantilly. He dug deep today.

“We will now discuss where to go next – there is the option of the Prix d’Harcourt (G2, 10f Longchamp, Sunday, 7 April), which is the next logical step, but we will see how he comes out of the race.

“He is a horse who really likes cut in the ground and he also acts very well on the all-weather.

“Magny Cours is a horse we have always thought a lot of and Mickael commented that he probably did not quite stay today. He also lacks a bit of experience as well.”