In 1968 he was sent to race in France where his conditioning was taken over by Etienne Pollet. Vaguely Noble won four of his five starts including the Prix de Guiche (by 3 lengths), Prix du Lys (by 8 lengths), Prix de Chantilly and France's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp defeating the brilliant Derby Stakes winner, Sir Ivor. Vaguely Noble, Ribot, and Sea-Bird were generally considered to be the three greatest winners of the world's premier race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.