Christophe soumillon biography

We had that little break for a few seasons but I knew I wanted to come back again. In a truly exceptional list of racehorses ridden by the year-old, arguably sitting at the top of the tree is Zarkavaa star mare who remained undefeated in her seven-race career, winning five Group One races including the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, arguably the biggest and best race in the world.

She gave Soumillon a feeling he admitted he had never had from a racehorse before, and he knew from a very early stage he could be riding something pretty special. We're not going to go, we're going to win it'. When you feel good, your horse is good and you're the favourite in a race, why should you feel that you can be beat? You can't make everybody happy.

Although his father was a rider and it was clear at a very early stage he had a considerable amount of talent - a champion Belgian pony jockey at the age of nine - Soumillon was not always destined to become the global star he is today. He has always been my idol. But before that there was also a grey time, black times. It's like my problem last year.

I'm going to speak about it. For sure I'm not proud, but you have to explain to them what happens. Sometimes you're not happy, and you react, overreact. It's a wonderful job, but mentally it's very tough. Because you need to lose weight. You need to work every day. You're going to have to drive a lot, and then go to some dinner to see owners and trainers, but you cannot eat too much.

And you're going to earn money very fast, but you need to understand that the money can also ruin it. And I have a chance today to do something. I go to see the ponies, I ride them, then I go to the races. For me it's a double pleasure because I have to look after the ponies and look after the kids. And when they come back after the gallops, and you see a big smile on their face, their sparkling eyes, they're like, 'Whoa.

We get it. That's what we want'. Beyond the pony racing academy, and perhaps beyond his own competitive days in the saddle, Soumillon also has plans to work with retired racehorses and France's Au-Dela Des Pistes movement in retraining them for other disciplines. Indeed, one of his quirkiest former partners, the Aga Khan's Vazirabad, is now one of the poster boys in this sphere.

So for me it's a christophe soumillon biography thing. I'm not forced to do it. In the meantime, though, he is adamant that race-riding remains his first love and priority. A few people think I am, a few people hope. I still want to win. I know how to ride. I'm feeling well. And most important for me is that I'm very happy.

Christophe soumillon biography

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In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. Belgian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Career [ edit ]. Personal life [ edit ].