Sea Team Awaiting Soumillon Call

SEA TEAM AWAITING SOUMILLON CALL 
Connections of G1 Deutsches Derby winner Sea the Moon (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) are likely to know by early next week whether jockey Christophe Soumillon, who partnered the colt to his 11-length romp in that German Classic, will be available for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Oct. 5. Soumillon was riding Sea the Moon for the first time in the Deutsches Derby, but was required for his retainer, the Aga Khan, last Sunday in France when Sea the Moon suffered his first defeat, finishing second in the G1 Grosser Preis Von Baden. 
“We have a clear understanding with Christophe and the Aga Khan that a decision will be made next Tuesday after they have seen the [G1] Prix Vermeille,” said Niko Lafrentz, whose Gestut Gorlsdorf is the owner/breeder of Sea the Moon. Lafrentz noted that should Soumillon be unavailable, the team would look for another international jockey. “I am sure that if we needed to advertise for a jockey my phone would not stop ringing,” he added. 
Despite Sunday’s turnover, Lafrentz still expressed confidence in his J “TDN Rising Star” J. 
“It was a good prep but obviously it could have gone a little better,” said Lafrentz. “On the day, [the winner] Ivanhowe was the best horse, but we know we can improve a lot on that. He came out of the race very well and while [jockey Cristian Demuro] could have asked for more, we didn’t want him to have a very hard race, as that wouldn’t have helped the team in the long term.”