Christophe Soumillon


Christophe Soumillon is a Belgian jockey based in France.

Career

Coming from a racing background, Soumillon is the son of jump jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. He rode in pony races and left Belgium aged fifteen to go to the racing school in Chantilly, France, where he was then apprenticed to trainer Cédric Boutin.
Soumillon rode his first Group race winner aged eighteen when Berine's Son, trained by André Fabre, won the 2000 Prix de Fontainebleau. The following season he won four Group 1 races, including the Prix du Jockey Club on Anabaa. In 2002 he was appointed first jockey in France to the Aga Khan's racing operation, a position he held until 2009 and then again from 2014 to 2022. The partnership was successful in the 2003 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Dalakhani and won the same race with the unbeaten filly Zarkava. In 2009 Soumillon lost his position, but the partnership resumed in 2014 and the following year they were successful at Royal Ascot when Ervedya won the Coronation Stakes.
Soumillon won the cravache d'or for the first time in 2003 and won his tenth title in 2018.
Although primarily known as a flat jockey, Soumillon has also ridden over hurdles, winning the 2010 Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil on Mandali.
In March 2020, he surpassed Yves Saint-Martin by riding his 3,315th winner in France. This milestone cemented his status at the top of the all-time leaderboard for wins in France.
On 30 September 2022 Soumillon was given a 60 day ban for elbowing Rossa Ryan off his horse during the Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud. He also lost his position as retained rider to the Aga Khan over the incident. The Police des Jeux considered extending Soumillon's ban but decided against it.
In July 2024, Soumillon won the King George VI and [Queen Elizabeth Stakes] at Ascot on 25/1 chance Goliath, trained by Francis-Henry Gaffard. After the race he said that he dreamt of winning the Epsom Derby and invited trainers to offer him a ride in the race. Trainer Charlie Johnstom offered him a ride in the 2025 Derby on Lazy Griff, a syndicate-owned horse who started at odds of 50/1 and had been 100/1 at one time. Soumillon had already ridden him to win the Group 3 Prix de Condé at Chantilly the previous autumn. Lazy Griff defied his odds to achieve second place behind Lambourn in the Derby.

Personal life

Soumillon married TV presenter and former beauty queen Sophie Thalmann on 22 July 2006. The couple have three children, daughter Charlie, son Mika and son Robin.
Having been involved with pony racing for several years, Soumillon founded the Soumillon International Pony Academy in Deauville in 2023.

Major wins

France
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Canada
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Germany
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Great Britain
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Hong Kong
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Hungary
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Ireland
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Italy
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Japan
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United Arab Emirates
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United States