Christophe Soumillion
Christophe Soumillion was born on the 4th of June 1981 in Belgium and spent the majority of his youth in Brussels. His father was an ex-jumps jockey and would often take Christophe with him to the racecourses. It was there that he became very interested in pony racing and for three years spent much time trying to perfect this sport. His effort was eventually rewarded with success, clocking over one hundred wins.
Later he became an apprentice to Cedric Boutin at Chantilly where he gained valuable experience that toughened him for the professional world of being a jockey. At the age of sixteen Christophe won his first race on Bruno at the 1997 Maisons-Laffitte. The following year was his year of fame after having a total of eleven successes, which landed him the prestigious top jockey award for apprentices.
In 2000, he finished up his apprenticeship and became Andre Fabre’s second-string jockey, behind Olivier Peslier, replacing Thierry Jarnet. Wearing the Rothschild colours, Soumillion took the racing world by storm. First he won his Group III race, the Prix de Fontainebleau on Berine’s Son, at the Longchamp then a week later he won five races at one single meeting, which included the Group II race the Prix du Muguet on Dansili. That day at Saint-Cloud he equaled the French record as well as riding his 100th win of his career.
A year later he left Andre Fabre’s stables but still managed to win his first Group I race named the Dubai-Poule d’Essai des Poulains on Vahorimix. Then he won the Prix du Jockey Club on Anabaa Blue, who was trained by Carlos Lerner a close family friend. His winning streak continued but the biggest moment for him was at the high-status Dubai Duty Free where he rode Terre a Terre and won. It proved to all that Christophe had the ability to break through the elite international jockeys and become as much a success as they were.
His career to date has been inundated with wins and incredible moments. The 2006 season was no different he won the Hong Kong Derby in the saddle of Viva Pataca an later in France he won the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on Joyful Winner. Christophe Soumillion has gone to the top of his game and continues to take the profession to new levels making him one of the top jockeys in international thoroughbred racing.
