Christophe Soumillon

Monday's G1 Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary had a wide-open feel beforehand and that was reflected in the finish with less than a length separating the first four home in the ParisLongchamp feature. In the event, it was Gerard Augustin-Normand's Incarville (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who prevailed in a three-way photo with Cirona (GB) (Maxios {GB}) and Es La Vida (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) as TDN Rising Star Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was a close-up fourth and possibly unlucky. Runner-up in the 10 1/2-furlong G3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud...

His Highness The Aga Khan's Makaloun (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}) suffered the only reverse of a five-race freshman campaign when a close third over 10 furlongs in a hot renewal of October's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and bounced back in style to garner Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche, dropping down in trip on seasonal return, at Chantilly. Last term's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage and G3 Prix de Conde victor went postward as the 23-10 second choice--for a heat won by Lawman (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Almanzor...

Jockey Christophe Soumillon told Hong Kong Jockey Club officials that a negative result was returned on his most recent COVID-19 test and with that, he has completed all necessary quarantine requirements as set out by the Hong Kong SAR Government. The Club will require that Soumillon take further tests beginning Saturday in accordance with established protocols and the earliest he may accept mounts will be Sunday, Dec. 20. The Belgian is on a short-term contract through Feb. 14 and was to ride Sunday's Longines HKIR, but was stood down Thursday...

Christophe Soumillon will miss Sunday's Hong Kong International Races meeting after failing to secure an 'unconditional' release from the 14-day quarantine he has been undertaking in Hong Kong. Having been granted a short-term riding contract with the Hong Kong Jockey Club set to begin HKIR day Dec. 13 and last through Feb. 14, Soumillon--who tested positive for COVID-19 at the Breeders' Cup in Kentucky early last month--arrived Nov. 26. A release from the Club Thursday evening indicated that even though Soumillon had cleared his first COVID-19 test upon his arrival,...

French-based jockey Christophe Soumillon has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been stood down from his rides on Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) and Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf and GI Breeders' Cup Mile, respectively. Colin Keane will take the ride on Tarnawa, and Pierre-Charles Boudot has been named on Order Of Australia. Soumillon was tested for coronavirus on Wednesday at Keeneland and upon receipt of the positive result on Thursday, another test was performed which also came back positive. Soumillon is now in isolation...

Having won the G1 Prix Vermeille on a quick surface over ParisLongchamp's 12 furlongs last time Sept. 13, The Aga Khan's Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) had to deal with the other extreme and a drop back to 10 furlongs on Sunday but proved up to the task in the G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines. Held up towards the rear early by a confident Christophe Soumillon, the 3-1 shot was brought with her customary withering run down the outer to deny Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) in the final strides...

Never a factor when eighth in last month's G1 Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp, His Highness The Aga Khan's Valia (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) returned to the Bois de Boulogne track for Saturday's G2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay and disposed of five rivals with ease to kick off a bumper weekend of stakes festivities. The homebred bay, who debuted with a 12-furlong success at Clairefontaine in June, bagged the July 23 Listed Prix de Thiberville before losing her perfect record when second in Deauville's Aug. 16 G3 Prix Minerve in her...

His Highness The Aga Khan's Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), who annexed the G2 Blandford S. on this weekend last year, defeated this semester's Blandford victress Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) when successful in last month's G3 Give Thanks S. at Cork. At the top of her game for Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille over 12 furlongs at ParisLongchamp, she displayed an impressive turn of foot to down a stellar cast in taking fashion. Settled in rear for most of this stamina test, the 28-5 chance made eyecatching headway out wide in...

Patience has long been a particular virtue of Hughie Morrison and Sunday's G2 Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville was testament to his ability to play the waiting game as Castle Down Racing's Telecaster (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) fully came of age. Sent straight to the front by Christophe Soumillon, the 13-10 favourite whose previous foray to France had resulted in a four-length success in ParisLongchamp's G3 La Coupe June 25 was always content untroubled at the head of affairs on this deep surface. Setting down for his plunge up...

Sixth when making his debut as The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) took the honours in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot June 19, Ventura Tormenta (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) had made enough strides in the interim to reverse that form and cause an upset in Sunday's G2 Darley Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly. Coming back to six furlongs having finished fifth in Newmarket's G2 Superlative S. over seven July 11, Middleham Park Racing's bay broke sharply to lead against the rail under Christophe Soumillon. Tackled by The...

His Highness The Aga Khan's hitherto unraced Zaykava (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a daughter of unbeaten MG1SW European Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar), was the main focus of attention for Wednesday's Prix du Cochet, a 10-furlong heat for newcomers, on a low-key card at Compiegne and duly obliged as the well-backed 7-5 favourite. 5th-Compiegne, €20,000, Mdn, 7-1, unraced 3yo, 10fT, 2:11.10, sf. ZAYKAVA (FR) (f, 3, Siyouni {Fr}--Zarkava {Ire} {Horse of the Year-Eur, Ch. 3yo Filly-Eur, Hwt. 2yo Filly-Fr & MG1SW-Fr, $4,793,989}, by Zamindar) was the main focus of attention for this low-key...

Courtesy of a double at Compiegne on Wednesday, Christophe Soumillon became the winning-most jockey in French racing history, his tally of 3,315 victories taking him past the figure set by Yves Saint-Martin. Belgian-born Soumillon, 38, already held one notable record, his total of 305 victories in 2017 being the highest ever achieved in France in one year. Having collected his first Cravache d'Or (the prize given to France's champion jockey) in 2003, Soumillon currently has 10 championships to his name (he tied with Pierre-Charles Boudot in 2015) and he is...