Christophe Soumillon: Belgian jockey in line for Ballydoyle rides with Ryan Moore injured
World-renowned jockey Christophe Soumillon is set to step in for increased involvement with Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle operation following an injury to their No 1 rider Ryan Moore; the 41-year-old is set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a stress fracture in his femur
Monday 1 September 2025 12:04, UK
Aidan O'Brien will turn to Christophe Soumillon to help fill some of the Ballydoyle riding plans as stable jockey Ryan Moore continues his recovery from a leg injury.
The trainer announced on Saturday that Moore will be sidelined for an indefinite period of time after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his femur.
Wayne Lordan is the yard's second rider, but he is due to be suspended for 10 days after the Goodwood stewards found him to have used his whip in the incorrect place aboard Prestige Stakes winner Precise.
Lordan has lodged an appeal against that ban, which runs from September 9-18, but with the St Leger meeting at Doncaster and the Irish Champions Festival both taking place next week, O'Brien would still be in need of multiple big-race riders as Delacroix is due to run in the Irish Champion Stakes while Scandinavia is a short-priced Leger favourite.
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Asked how plans will change given the news of Moore's injury, O'Brien said: "Wayne is having his appeal this week and obviously Christophe has ridden a lot for us through the year, all those things are changing at the moment.
"I don't know how long Ryan is going to be but we will tell him to take as much time as he wants."
O'Brien has often turned to Soumillon, who was previously retained by the late Aga Khan, for his French runners, with the rider partnering Diego Velazquez to win last month's Prix Jacques le Marois while he also rode two Group One winners for the team on Arc weekend last year.
The trainer added: "Christophe has always been [part of the plans]. He's not tied down to anybody now.
"He's a world-class jockey everywhere, he's been riding for us a lot since he's been released."
