Christophe Soumillon | Horse Racing Free Tips

Bated Breath’s Makaloun Annexes The Prix de Guiche

His Highness The Aga Khan's Makaloun (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}) suffered the only reverse of a five-race freshman campaign when a close third over 10 furlongs in a hot renewal of October's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and bounced back in style to garner Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche, dropping down in trip on seasonal return, at Chantilly. Last term's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage and G3 Prix de Conde victor went postward as the 23-10 second choice–for a heat won by Lawman (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in recent years–and slipstreamed stablemate Veldeni (Fr) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) from flagfall in this nine-furlong test. Seizing an opportunity as Veldeni ghosted away from the inner and offered an open seam along the far-side rail into the straight, he bounded to the front soon after turning for home and kept on powerfully under mild rousting inside the final quarter mile to withstand the dual late threat of Millebosc (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and Listed Prix Maurice Caillault victor Fort Payne (Fr) (Rio de la Plata) by a half length and a short neck for a third black-type success.

“That was perfect teamwork, the pacemaker [Veldeni] did a super job and Makaloun had the most perfect reintroduction,” said winning trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. “He quickened nicely, he was not finished at the end and didn't have a hard race. I saw what I wanted to see. With [undefeated Listed Prix de Suresnes winner] Saiydabad, we now have two potential runners for the [June 6 G1] Prix du Jockey Club and, personally, I would like to run both. However, we'll discuss it with His Highness and the entourage to see where we go from here.”

Makaloun is the latest of four foals and one of three winners from as many runners out of a dual-winning half-sister to Listed Prix Omnium II victor Markazi (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The May-foaled homebred's fourth dam Mariyada (Diesis {GB}), from the immediate family of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Riverqueen (Fr) (Luthier {Fr}), is kin to G3 Prix d'Hedouville winner and G2 Prix Niel runner-up Malakim (Blushing Groom {Fr}) and also to the granddam of Listed Fleur de Lys S. victress Mayonga (Ire) (Dr Fong).

Tuesday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE GUICHE-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 5-11, 3yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:53.11, g/s.
1–MAKALOUN (FR), 128, c, 3, by Bated Breath (GB)
1st Dam: Makana (Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Marasima (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: Miralaya (Ire), by Shernazar (Ire)
O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Christophe Soumillon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-1, €158,870. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Millebosc (Fr), 128, c, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Mixed Intention (Ire), by Elusive City. O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA (FR); T-Stephanie Nigge. €16,000.
3–Fort Payne (Fr), 128, c, 3, Rio de la Plata–Lady Verde (Fr), by Meshaheer. O-Alain Jathiere, Mme Philippe Demercastel & Nicolas Caullery; B-Mme Philippe Demercastel (FR); T-Nicolas Caullery. €12,000.
Margins: HF, SNK, 2. Odds: 2.30, 6.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Adhamo (Ire), Darkness (Fr), Veldeni (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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‘Happy To Get Out Of The Bubble’: Soumillon Emerges From COVID-19 Quarantine To Ride In Hong Kong

Sidelined from two of the most prestigious meetings in the world because of COVID-19, Belgian ace Christophe Soumillon is anxious to make up for lost opportunities – and time – when he resumes with a full book of rides at Sha Tin on Sunday, Dec. 20.

Diagnosed with COVID-19 shortly before the Breeders' Cup meeting at Keeneland on Nov. 7, the 10-time French champion surrendered a winning ride on Tarnawa in the US$4 million Breeders' Cup Turf.

Salting the wound, Soumillon also watched Order Of Australia – another confirmed mount – post an upset victory in the US$2 million Breeders' Cup Mile.

Unable to gain clearance to leave quarantine as scheduled in Hong Kong because of health protocols, Soumillon then forfeited the ride on Normcore, who claimed the HK$28 million LONGINES Hong Kong Cup under Zac Purton.

Compounding the situation, Soumillon also lost the winning ride on Lucky Patch at Sha Tin at the same meeting.

But, exhibiting an attitude which has impressed his peers and Hong Kong Jockey Club officials, Soumillon is squarely fixed on future positives rather than pondering negatives from the past.

“I knew they (Normcore and Lucky Patch) were gonna run well, probably win. I was ready to see, even a bit, Admire Mars fighting with Golden Sixty. That didn't happen,” he said after the Happy Valley trials this morning (Dec. 18).

“But, anyway, I came here to try my best. I knew had some good rides. Last Wednesday, at Happy Valley, I lost five winners, so the same.

“I'm coming here to compete and do my best. Unfortunately, the rules are the rules.

“I get positively tested in the US.

“I already lost this year the Breeders' Cup, I could win the French Derby, I could win the Arc. I could win many big races and I couldn't be on the horse at the right time some times because we didn't take the greatest decision and sometimes because you get the COVID-19.

“But some people are very sick and couldn't get back well after getting the disease, so it doesn't matter.

“I work enough to know that if I keep going like this, I will find other big winners in the future.

“I lost something, but I learnt different things so it's gonna make me stronger at the end of the day.

“Hopefully I'm gonna get some good rides on some very good horses, that's the target at the end.

“I just want to go back riding races, going to the winners' circle and doing what I do best.”

Such is Soumillon's appeal among owners and trainers, he is fully booked through Jan. 1, 2021, starting with a complement of 10 rides on Sunday.

“Really happy to get out of the bubble, finally I can do what I really love every day – riding horses and competing with other jockeys,” he said.

“Very excited to be racing on Sunday and my feelings are very good. I'm fit and well and ready to go.”

Proving every cloud has a silver lining, Soumillon has used the time in isolation pro-actively, building fitness and spending hours poring over replays and form.

“Because I was locked up for more than two weeks now, maybe three (weeks), I've had the time to look at the races properly and analyze every horse's trackwork and the way they are improving a lot,” he said.

“It was quite good in that way.

“My first two race days are fully booked and it's the same now until the first of January, so I feel a lot of good support from the owners and trainers.

“I just hope now I can do my job again, like I did before.”

Soumillon is hopeful Ballistic King is among his best chances to add to his tally of 110 Hong Kong winners in the Class 2 Bellflower Handicap (1400m).

“We didn't have the best draw (barrier 9), but the horse looks in form,” he said.

“He got beat not far away the last few races, just hoping he can jump out of the gates quite well.

“He looks a bit of a one-paced horse but he looks in form. I think he's going to run good.”

Synonymous with Hong Kong top-liners Viva Pataca, Bullish Luck, Good Ba Ba and Perfect Partner, Soumillon will belatedly start a two-month contract, grateful to be heading back into the fray.

“The opportunity is great, but unfortunately I got the disease,” he said.

“Now I'm fine, I'm 100 percent right I just hope things will go back as they to normal.”

Soumillon partners Bella Baby, Smart Thinker, Glenealy Generals, King Dragon, Resolute, Speed Fay Fay, Super Power Man, Winning For All, Perfect To Great and Ballistic King.

Sunday's 10-race fixture kicks off at 1pm with the Class 5 Sunflower Handicap (1000m).

The post ‘Happy To Get Out Of The Bubble’: Soumillon Emerges From COVID-19 Quarantine To Ride In Hong Kong appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Japanese-Trained Normcore Upstages Magical In Hong Kong Cup

Zac Purton has crowned a week of stellar milestones by becoming the first rider in history to partner nine Hong Kong International Races winners after Japanese mare Normcore upstaged Win Bright and Magical in the HK$28 million G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.

Purton, 37, gained the ride on the grey after Christophe Soumillon was forced to forfeit the mount after failing to secure an unconditional release from quarantine following a COVID test on Thursday.

On Wednesday at Happy Valley, Purton became only the second jockey after Douglas Whyte to ride 1,200 winners in Hong Kong.

The reigning jockey champion, Purton was jubilant after breaking the Hong Kong International Races' tie he had shared with Frenchman Gerard Mosse after Normcore outsprinted fellow Japan's Win Bright and Ireland's Magical.

“It's something I'm very proud of, it's a great achievement,” he said.

“To also now be the only jockey to win the full set of international races twice is also for myself somewhat rewarding.

“Hopefully, I can just can continue to have luck at this meeting going forward.

“It's been a great week, I'm very thankful that I get these opportunities.”

Purton was grateful to regain the ride on Normcore, whose previous G1 triumph came in the Victoria Mile when partnered by another Australian, Damian Lane, in May 2019.

“Initially we sort of confirmed the ride and then when it was announced Christophe was coming, they changed their mind. They're entitled to do that,” Purton said.

“It was what it was, I just had to accept that. Thankfully, it came back.”

Purton has been synonymous with Hong Kong International Races success with eight previous triumphs on the jurisdiction's most prestigious day.

The New South Welshman savored Vase glory with Dominant (2013) and Exultant (2018), the Mile with Ambitious Dragon (2012), Beauty Only (2016) and Beauty Generation (2018), Sprint with Aerovelocity (2014 and 2016) and the Cup with Time Warp in 2017.

Purton stalked the 2019 Cup winner Win Bright in the run before peeling widest in a riveting global contest.

Japan's three runners finished in the top four, with Danon Premium trailing Magical to the line.

“She (Normcore) had to fight for it, Win Bright gave a really sharp kick and his love for Sha Tin was starting to show through,” Purton said.

“But she was determined and inch by inch, she just kept putting herself in the frame.”

Trained by Kiyoshi Hagiwara, Normcore ran fourth to Admire Mars in last year's Hong Kong Mile.

Hagiwara has handled several topliners since taking out a trainers' licence in 1996, including Logi Universe, Le Vent Se Leve and Obruchev.

Ryan Moore said a slackening mid-race tempo wrecked Magical's chances of becoming the first horse trained by Aidan O'Brien to snare eight G1s.

“There was a lack of pace so therefore I couldn't go where I wanted to go,” Moore said.

“She ran well.”

Normcore is the first filly or mare to win a HKIR since Ed Dunlop's champion Snow Fairy took the Cup in 2010.

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Soumillon Clears Quarantine

Jockey Christophe Soumillon told Hong Kong Jockey Club officials that a negative result was returned on his most recent COVID-19 test and with that, he has completed all necessary quarantine requirements as set out by the Hong Kong SAR Government. The Club will require that Soumillon take further tests beginning Saturday in accordance with established protocols and the earliest he may accept mounts will be Sunday, Dec. 20. The Belgian is on a short-term contract through Feb. 14 and was to ride Sunday’s Longines HKIR, but was stood down Thursday after failing to gain clearance from quarantine. In related news, jockey Zac Purton was fined HK$40,000 for a tweet that had the potential to “create uncertainty regarding the continuance of racing in Hong Kong in the immediate future.”

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