Christophe Soumillon

You can say this much for John Stewart, he doesn't think small. Looking to build a stable that can compete at the highest level not only in the U.S. but all over the world, the owner will compete in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup with his newest acquisition, the gelding Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {(Ger)}. Stewart purchased a majority interest in Goliath after he won the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at odds of 25-1. Since, he has won the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris Stakes at...

Three of Europe's top 2400-metre gallopers face an 11-strong local challenge in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup, looking to snap an 18-year run of success for Japanese-based horses. While it has become next to impossible for the raiders to walk away with the Tokyo spoils, that was not always the case. In the first 17 renewals, horses from overseas prevailed on no fewer than a dozen occasions, including theretofore unprecedented consecutive winners for Sir Michael Stoute with Singspiel (Ire) and Pilsudski (Ire) in 1996 and 1997, respectively. But since that time,...

Sunday's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris at ParisLongchamp witnessed the return of the King George hero Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}--Gouache {Ger}, by Shamardal) and it was a case of plain sailing as he successfully prepped for the G1 Japan Cup. Always in cruise mode under Christophe Soumillon tracking the modest pace, the 6-5 favourite tanked his way to the front two out and was always holding Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) comfortably at bay en route to a half-length success. "After the minor setback he had in September we had...

William Haggas had already annexed the Listed Prix Saraca, courtesy of Yaroogh (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), earlier on Chantilly's Saturday card and made it an afternoon stakes double by taking the feature event, the €190,000 G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte, with the hitherto unbeaten Sky Majesty (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}--Majestic Alexander {Ire}, by Bushranger {Ire}), who maintained her perfect record with a gutsy display in heavy conditions. The March-foaled bay, who backed up an Aug. 19 debut score at Newbury with a neck victory in Ayr's Sept. 21 G3 Firth of Clyde...

Back in 2010, when Wootton Bassett (GB) registered what would ultimately be his defining success in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, few would have predicted the considerable impact he would have on the breed. Fourteen years on, the extent to which he has grown in stature during his second career was felt in the same Qatar-sponsored race as his son Camille Pissarro (Ire) stepped up to reward Coolmore's faith and investment in the sire's raw material. Up to seven furlongs and fitted with blinkers for the first time, Ballydoyle's TDN...

Coolmore and Westerberg's G3 Stanerra Stakes victrix Grateful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Tepin, by Bernstein), who hit the board in last month's G2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, made the necessary transition under an inspired ride from Christophe Soumillon to secure a career high in Saturday's G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp. She became the fourth winner on the card for a dominant Aidan O'Brien. Employing patiently tactics and settled off the tempo for most of this 14-furlong marathon, the 207-10 chance made relentless headway out wide in the straight to...

The Gredley family's Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), second in the 2024 G1 Derby, will gain the services of Christophe Soumillon when he contests the G2 Prix Niel on Sept. 15, according to trainer James Fanshawe. The Listed Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes hero, who was third in the G1 Irish Derby, was last seen running 10th in the G1 International Stakes at York on Aug. 21. The Group 2 is a pointer for the Oct. 6 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Fanshawe said, "That's the plan--all being well, he...

Deauville August is underway and with it a new TDN Rising Star as White Birch Farm's homebred Ultrafragola (Ire) (Sottsass {Fr}--Toinette, by Scat Daddy) provided her Prix du Jockey Club and Arc-winning first-crop sire with a sensational breakthrough winner turning the Prix des Marettes into a procession. Well found in the market as the 7-5 favourite, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained daughter of the four-times graded-stakes winner travelled strongly for Christophe Soumillon in the wake of the early leader Marques (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). Looming to that stablemate two out, she was...

Virtually ignored ahead of Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes, Philip Baron Von Ullmann's Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}--Gouache {Ger}, by Shamardal) had a sting in the tail for his revered fellow contenders as he dominated the Ascot feature. Only second in the course-and-distance G2 Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained 4-year-old thrived off the strong pace set by the Ballydoyle contingent and was travelling notably powerfully under Christophe Soumillon straightening for home. Committed 1 1/2 furlongs out, the 25-1 shot bounded clear for...

Deauville's six-furlong Prix de Lisieux for unraced 2-year-olds can throw up a smart filly and Sunday's edition looked full of promise as Yeguada Centurion's Epson Blue Cen (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}--Epsom Icon {GB}, by Sixties Icon {GB}) mastered her peers. Sent off at 10-1, the homebred daughter of the G3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes winner travelled strongly on the wing behind the leaders before being unleashed by Christophe Soumillon to take control 300 metres out. Staying on strongly as the eye-catching Wertheimer homebred Iron Bird (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) produced a rattle...

Yann Barberot trainee Lhakpa (Ire) (Siyouni {Ire}--Enchanting Skies {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), a €650,000 Arqana August half-sister to last term's G3 Prix La Rochette victor and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere third Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), made a winning debut when getting up late in Saturday's seven-furlong Prix des Belles Demoiselles at Compiegne. 1st-Compiegne, €30,000, Mdn, 6-22, unraced 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:30.74, sf. LHAKPA (IRE) (f, 2, Siyouni {Fr}--Enchanting Skies {Ire} {SP-Fr}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) recovered from a sluggish exit to track the leaders in...

Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Whatami {GB}, by Daylami {Ire}), who added to his win column going 12 furlongs at Chantilly last month, continued on a roll over the same course and distance in Sunday's G3 Prix du Lys Longines to lay down a marker for next month's G1 Grand Prix de Paris. The 8-5 favourite was steadied off the pace through the initial fractions and improved position to track the leaders in fourth approaching halfway. Taking closer order in the straight, he was...