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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).

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Arpista Moves To Beau Valley Stable In Alberta For 2021

The Quality Road son, Arpista, will stand at Beau Valley Stable in Didsbury, Alberta for the 2021 season.

Quality Road has 11 Grade 1 winners from six crops of racing age and stands for a $150,000 stud fee at Lane's End in Kentucky. Quality Road is rated as one of the top three sires in North America and his progeny include the Grade 1 winners, City of Light ($5,662,670) and Roadster ($852,700).

The dam of Arpista, Harpia, is a graded stakes winner and black type producer. The Danzig mare won the Grade 3 Shirley Jones Handicap and finished second in four Grade 2 stakes, completing her race career with a record of winning or placing in ten of her thirteen starts. Harpia is the dam of stakes placed winner First Word ($281,000).

Arpista is the only son of Quality Road standing at stud in Canada.

He will stand for a $1,500 (Canadian) stud fee with a $250 booking fee.

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California-Bred Juvenile Good With People Headlines Sunday’s King Glorious Stakes

A prompt favorite in the Golden State Juvenile Nov. 7 at Del Mar, Good With People will try two turns for the first time in the $100,000 King Glorious Sunday at Los Alamitos

Named in honor of the winner of the 1988 Hollywood Futurity and 1989 Haskell, the King Glorious is restricted to 2-year-olds bred or sired in California. The race at one mile is the feature attraction on the final day of the Los Angeles County Fair Winter Thoroughbred meet.

The King Glorious attracted a dozen entrants, but only 10 will be allowed to start.

Post time Sunday is 12 Noon. The King Glorious, which is the ninth of 10 races, has a scheduled post time of 3:58 p.m.

A son of Curlin to Mischief and the Roar of the Tiger mare Gator Prowl owned by breeders Kirk and Judy Robison and trained by Peter Miller, Good With People led throughout in the seven-furlong Golden State Juvenile, ultimately winning by three-quarters of a length.

The victory was the third in five starts for the dark bay and pushed his earnings to $199,100.

Trainer Doug O'Neill and owner-breeder J. Paul Reedam will be seeking their third win in the King Glorious when they send out Play Chicken.

A son of Square Eddie and the Distorted Humor mare Smoove, Play Chicken is 1-for-2 with earnings of $39,000. He won at the King Glorious distance on turf in his Oct. 17 debut, then was fifth in the Golden State Juvenile.

O'Neill and Reddam's victories in the King Glorious came with Found Money in 2015 and Ann Arbor Eddie a year later.

Undefeated in two starts for Edward J. Brown, Jr. and trainer Jeff Bonde, Mister Bold will stretch in his attempt to stay perfect.

A Time to Get Even colt out of the Bold Badgett mare Bold Mystique, Mister Bold collected both of his wins at Del Mar, scoring at the same distance – 5 ½ furlongs – Sept. 5 and Oct. 31. He's banked $42,000.

Positivity, who was also entered in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity, has won two of three and was runner-up in the Golden State Juvenile in his first start for trainer Paddy Gallagher. Owned by Annie, Justyn and Charles Winner, the Paynter colt out of the City Zip mare Sam's Sunny City has earned $115,500.

A distant third in the Golden State Juvenile in his first start for trainer John Sadler, Ascot Storm will try more yardage for West Point Thoroughbreds. The Shackleford gelding out of the Carson City mare High Button Shoes is 1-for-2 with a bankroll of $51,000. He was privately purchased after winning his debut by 4 ¾ lengths Oct. 4 for trainer Hector Palma.

Owned and trained by Cynthia Kelley, Club Cal defeated $50,000 maidens by four lengths in his Dec. 6 introduction to Los Alamitos. The Clubhouse Ride gelding out of the Rocky Bar mare Yawannagokid has banked $20,200 in three starts.

A graduate via disqualification in a $40,000 maiden claimer Nov. 26 at Del Mar, Govenor's Party will make his Los Alamitos debut for owner-trainer Daniel Franko. The Govenor Charlie colt out of the Zensational mare Spring Moon has earned $8,690 in four starts.

Tacoflavoredkisses will try to improve upon a sixth place finish in the Golden State Juvenile for owners Jason Litt and Alex Solis III and trainer Simon Callaghan.

A Distorted Humor colt out of the Parading mare Sweetpollypurebred has won twice in five races and earned $75,180. He owns a win at the King Glorious distance, capturing an optional claimer at Golden Gate Fields Oct. 11.

Trained by Sal Gonzalez for Tricar Stables Inc., Wedding Groom has a win in five starts and earnings of $31,600. He's a son of Hard Spun and the Medaglia d'Oro mare Wedding Dress. He has Los Alamitos experience, finishing second behind None Above the Law in his debut during the Summer meet.

Owned by Don Gibbs and Regan Wright and trained by Luis Mendez, From the Get Go has a win in three starts and earnings of $23,700. The Metaboss colt out of the Walter Willy mare Miss Nicolie graduated against $50,000 maidens at 5 ½ furlongs Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

Bobby's Alibi – one of the also-eligibles – will be switching to dirt if he starts after consecutive runner-up finishes on the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields, the latest when favored in a starter allowance at eight furlongs Nov. 12.

Trained by Faith Taylor for Robert G. Jones, the Curlin to Mischief colt has one win in six starts. Out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Sacred Alibi, he's earned $18,700.

The other also eligible – Moving Fast – will be returning to the main track if a participant after graduating at one mile on the Del Mar turf course Nov. 14. A son of Jeranimo and the Desert Code mare Moving Desert, the gelding has banked $41,900 for owner-breeder Harris Farms, Inc. and trainer Sean McCarthy.

From inside out, the field for the King Glorious: Club Cal, Edwin Maldonado rides, 117 pounds; Wedding Groom, Eswan Flores, 117; Tacoflavoredkisses, Umberto Rispoli, 119; Positivity, Drayden Van Dyke, 119; From the Get Go, Jose Valdivia, Jr., 117; Mister Bold, Mike Smith, 117; Ascot Storm, Juan Hernandez, 117; Good With People, Ricardo Gonzalez, 121; Govenor's Party, Geovanni Franco, 117; Play Chicken, Mario Gutierrez; 117; Moving Fast (AE), Tyler Baze, 117 and Bobby's Alibi (AE), Santos Rivera, 117.

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Once A Trainer, Always A Trainer: Contessa Returning As Private Conditioner For Bell Gable Stable

Gary Contessa, who had announced the closure of his public stable earlier this year, announced this week he will return to training in a private capacity for Nick and Delora Beaver's Bell Gable Stable. Contessa will aid in building the racing operation in addition to training the horses, and said he will continue to represent multiple clients as a buyer's agent at public auction.

Bell Gable is a small racing and breeding operation based near Delaware Park and runs horses primarily in the Mid-Atlantic.

Contessa said he believes training privately will eliminate a lot of the difficulties that prompted him to leave the racing business earlier this year.

“The effort you have to put forth in a public stable can be overwhelming and incredibly time-consuming,” Contessa said. “In agreeing to work privately for Bell Gable I am going to be paid a salary and work with Nick and Delora Beaver to promote Bell Gable and help mold it into a top stable and promote the brand. In exchange Bell Gable gets a trainer, partner, director, bloodstock agent and friend. I will have to report to just them and have the opportunity to share their vision.”

As Contessa's public stable grew smaller in recent years, he said the financial investment no longer made sense, particularly given the cumbersome and expensive requirements of the U.S. Department of Labor for time-keeping and record-keeping. Contessa's stable was one of several New York operations audited by the federal government.

As of his retirement announcement in March, Contessa had saddled runners in 18,142 races with 2,363 wins. His top runners included Grade 1 winners Sippican Harbor and Do It With Style, Kentucky Derby runner Uncle Sigh, and multiple graded stakes winners Rite Moment, Mission Approved, and True Affair.

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