Christophe Soumillon

Juddmonte's Sunly had looked one to follow when going two-for-two in the Listed Prix de la Seine and stayed on the rise with a smooth win in the G3 Prix de Royaumont at Chantilly on Sunday. Always travelling easily for Christophe Soumillon, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained daughter of Night Of Thunder took control a furlong from home en route to a 2 1/2-length success from Cloth Of Stars's Indalimos. In doing so, the 9-10 favourite was completing a family Group 3 weekend double following the exploits of the sire's equally-exciting Estrange...

Godspeed's finishing sectionals in the G3 Prix de la Grotte showed us that she was a class act and Peter Bradley's colour-bearer confirmed that in Sunday's G2 Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly. This was effectively won at the break, with Christophe Soumillon instantly getting a length on the inexperienced favourite Vadinska and able to sit in mid-division while that peer was anchored out the back. Slipping by the leader Eponine with ease passing two out, the Carlos and Yann Lerner-trained daughter of Hello Youmzain was in cruise control from there...

Bouncing back from a disappointing effort when fifth in the G3 Prix Noailles, Starspangledbanner's Rafale Design returned to ParisLongchamp to stamp his class on Thursday's G3 Prix Hocquart. Sent off at 12-1 for the 11-furlong contest, having backtracked on his smart juvenile form last month, Laurent Dassault's colour-bearer was restrained by Christophe Soumillon following a smart break to track the moderate pace. Full of running at every stage, the colt that Yann Barberot described as his "best" took control approaching the furlong pole before asserting for a smooth 1 1/4-length...

With two weeks remaining until the $30.5-million Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan Racecourse, riding assignments for the American raiders are coming into focus. Perhaps the best chance for U.S. victory on the program, champion and recent G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint hero Straight No Chaser (Speightster) will look for more desert riches in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen with his regular rider John Velazquez back in the irons. The veteran reinsman's agent Kiaran McLaughlin also confirmed that Velazquez has the call aboard Il Miracolo (Gun Runner) for trainer Antonio Sano...

Craig Bernick's Audubon Park (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Right Hand {GB}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}) delivered a stunning late burst to notch a four-length debut score going 9 1/2 furlongs atop Chantilly's synthetic surface last month and repeated the dose upped to 10 furlongs on the turf with a perfect G1 Prix de Diane audition in Thursday's Listed Prix Rose de Mai at Saint-Cloud. The well-backed 3-5 favourite was smartly into stride from the inside stall and settled into a smooth rhythm behind the leaders in third until slipping to fourth...

There were fireworks on Chantilly's Tuesday afternoon card as Carlos and Yann Lerner trainee We'll Defend (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}--Skysweeper {Fr}, by Hurricane Run {Ire}) illuminated proceedings with a taking four-length 'TDN Rising Star' performance in the Prix de la Serpentine, a 9 1/2-furlong contest for unraced fillies. The G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane entry was under heavy restraint through the early stages and raced in a handy fourth, behind a sedate pace, for the most part. Cruising forward on the bridle in the home straight,...

There was a hint of Spring despite the expected February cold at Chantilly on Friday and also a sign of the initial shoots of the upcoming Flat season with some big operations represented on the course's Polytrack. Among them was George Strawbridge's homebred Kryon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Darkova, by Maria's Mon), a Victoria Head-trained half-brother to Wootton Bassett's champion Almanzor (Fr) who made his 3-year-old bow a relatively impressive one in the colts' division of the fixture's pair of 9 1/2-furlong maidens. Not seen since finishing third on his...

Recently-crowned Longines World's Best Jockey James McDonald has been confirmed in the line-up for the 2025 International Jockeys' Challenge (IJC) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Friday, February 21. It will mark the first time the globetrotting New Zealander, who has ridden 106 Group 1 winners in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Britain and Japan, has competed in Saudi Arabia. McDonald's participation in the IJC will also give him valuable experience of the Riyadh track, the day before bidding for glory aboard Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation...

You can say this much for John Stewart, he doesn't think small. Looking to build a stable that can compete at the highest level not only in the U.S. but all over the world, the owner will compete in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup with his newest acquisition, the gelding Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {(Ger)}. Stewart purchased a majority interest in Goliath after he won the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at odds of 25-1. Since, he has won the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris Stakes at...

Three of Europe's top 2400-metre gallopers face an 11-strong local challenge in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup, looking to snap an 18-year run of success for Japanese-based horses. While it has become next to impossible for the raiders to walk away with the Tokyo spoils, that was not always the case. In the first 17 renewals, horses from overseas prevailed on no fewer than a dozen occasions, including theretofore unprecedented consecutive winners for Sir Michael Stoute with Singspiel (Ire) and Pilsudski (Ire) in 1996 and 1997, respectively. But since that time,...

Sunday's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris at ParisLongchamp witnessed the return of the King George hero Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}--Gouache {Ger}, by Shamardal) and it was a case of plain sailing as he successfully prepped for the G1 Japan Cup. Always in cruise mode under Christophe Soumillon tracking the modest pace, the 6-5 favourite tanked his way to the front two out and was always holding Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) comfortably at bay en route to a half-length success. "After the minor setback he had in September we had...

William Haggas had already annexed the Listed Prix Saraca, courtesy of Yaroogh (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), earlier on Chantilly's Saturday card and made it an afternoon stakes double by taking the feature event, the €190,000 G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte, with the hitherto unbeaten Sky Majesty (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}--Majestic Alexander {Ire}, by Bushranger {Ire}), who maintained her perfect record with a gutsy display in heavy conditions. The March-foaled bay, who backed up an Aug. 19 debut score at Newbury with a neck victory in Ayr's Sept. 21 G3 Firth of Clyde...