Christophe Soumillon

Christophe Soumillon (Schaerbeek June 4th 1981 -) is a Belgian jockey. He belongs to the world elite of the jockeys of flat races thanks to his many successes in France and England but also with Hong-Kong or Dubai.

Wire of a jockey of obstacle, it is interested very young person in the horse-races and makes its first weapons in races of ponies, gaining a hundred races.

A few years later, he becomes apprentice with Chantilly in France and gains its first success in 1997. In 1998, haloed of 11 victories, it receives the clamp of gold, reward reserved to the apprentice-jockeys.

In 2000, it joined André Fabre like second jockey behind Olivier Peslier. April 30th, it gains its 100e victory, and succeeds in the exploit to gain 5 races in the same meeting, thus equalizing the record of France of victories in a meeting.

In 2001, it leaves André Fabre and signs a contract of goes up with the stable of the Aga Khan. It continues its ascencion with many prestigious victories, in particular in the Prix of the Jockey Club.

In 2002, it gains its first great international race while being essential on Dubai in the Dubai Duty Free.

May 11th 2003 it makes a success of an authentic exploit while being essential in the three races of group I of Longchamp, namely the Poule of Test of the Foalta, the Poule of Test of the Fillies and the Prix Lupin. A few weeks later, it again gains the Prix of the Jockey Club before gaining its first Prix of the Triumphal arch with Dalakhani. It also gains its first group I in England in the Racing Post Trophy. At the end of the season 2003, it adds up 207 victories in France in the season, absolute records (which will be however beaten the following year by Ioritz Mendizabal with 220 victories). It also receives the Cravache of gold. In 2004, it hangs the Prix of Diane to her prize list with Latice , before finishing second of the Prix of the Triumphal arch with Cherry Mix .

In 2005, it is essential in the Steward' S Cup on Hong-Kong, the Queen Anne Stakes in England, the Oaks of Ireland, while gaining many races of Group I in France. Always under contract with the stable of the Aga Khan, it is from now on the jockey-high-speed motorboat of the stable and runs the best international races with the best horses of the stable. It in addition beats the record of races gained in France with 226 victories.

In 2006, it benefits from a new escapade in Hong-Kong to hang the Hong-Kong Derby with its prize list. More surprising, he also knows his first victory in trot harnessed by drivant the trotter of which he is owner (what is interdict in dish). He fails in the conquest of the Derby of Epsom, but catches up with himself the following day by gaining its 3rd Prix of the Jockey-Club with Darsi. June 24th, 2006, it reaches the symbolic mark of the 1.000 victories in France on the hippodrome of Lyon-Parilly with Secret of Family. July 22nd, 2006, it Marie with Sophie Thalmann, ex- Miss France. They are already the parents of small a " Charlie" born on September 8th, 2005.

At the end of July, and following the suspension of Kieren Francis Fallon, André Fabre entrusts to him Hurricane Run in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. In the last turning, the things seem badly committed, but at the price of a large effort, it overrides Electrocutionist, thus signing a new victory in a group I.

On Sunday, September 10 2006, it makes a success of one day exceptional with Longchamp by gaining the fifth of the day, then the Prix Foy (Group II), the Prix Vermilion (Group I), the Prix Niel (Group II) and the Prix of the Small Cover (Group III). It is the second time that it succeeds in the exploit to gain 5 races in a meeting (a record of victories in a meeting of which he was already the joint-holder).

Prize list

The United States

France

HongKong

  • HongKong Derby: 2006 Viva Pataca
  • Chairman' S Sprint: 2006 Ticket Express train
  • Steward' S Cup: 2005 Bullish Luck
  • HongKong Gold Cup: 2005 Perfect Partner
  • Queen' S Silver Jubilee Cup: 2006 Joyful Winner

Ireland

Italy

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