Soumillon Loses Aga Khan Retainer

[Wandering Eyes]

Christophe Soumillon, who was banned from race-riding for two months for causing Rossa Ryan to be unseated from his mount mid-race at Saint-Cloud, will no longer be the retained jockey for the Aga Khan Studs.

An announcement released by the operation on Tuesday morning read, “Following last Friday's incident at Saint-Cloud, which resulted in the fall of Rossa Ryan, the Aga Khan Studs have taken the decision to cease their retainer with jockey Christophe Soumillon with immediate effect.

“From this week onwards, Soumillon may still ride in the Aga Khan silks on occasion at the discretion of the French trainers and the Aga Khan Studs team. At this stage, there is no intention to retain a jockey in France for the foreseeable future.”

Soumillon, who was runner-up in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe aboard the Aga Khan's dual Group 1 winner Vadeni (Fr) and won Saturday's G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein with Erevann (Fr), has been associated with numerous major winners for the owner-breeder during his two stints as principal retained jockey, which ran from 2002 to 2009 and from 2014 to 2022.

In Friday's Prix Thomas Bryon Stakes, Soumillon elbowed Ryan, who was riding on his outside, causing the latter to take a nasty tumble. Ryan was uninjured and Soumillon's mount Syros (Fr) went on to finish second but was later disqualified. 

Soumillon said after the race, “Straight away I knew I made a mistake and I'm terribly sad about what happened because I hate to see stuff like this. When you are doing that it is even more terrible, so I really want to apologise to everyone, all involved with the horse.

“As for all the people who love racing, it was not a nice act from my side and I'm terribly sorry and want to apologise for what happened today.”

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