Christophe Soumillon Wins 10th French Jockey Title

Christophe Soumillon will be crowned France's champion jockey for the 10th time Dec. 31 after rival Pierre-Charles Boudot announced he would have no more rides this year. 

Both men rode two winners on Tuesday's 10-race card at Deauville, at the end of which Soumillon led his younger rival by nine winners, 182 to 173. 

Boudot tweeted his congratulations to Soumillon, confirming that, with just four flat meetings left in the year, he would be taking a well-earned break.

Speaking Wednesday morning, Soumillon told the Racing Post: "Ten times Cravache d'Or (golden whip, the championship trophy in France) is something that was unimaginable as a young man. Although I won a few in consecutive years when I was younger, I felt that, past a certain age, it would become harder.

"So to be constantly among the top three jockeys over the last five years is reward for hard work and the result of being surrounded by a good team, and to come out on top this year gives me great pleasure."

Boudot has enjoyed a fine season at the top level with successes on Waldgeist, Lily's Candle, One Master, and Intellogent, and he has a leading classic contender to look forward to in 2019 with Persian King. 

Soumillon said of his great rival: "What Pierre-Charles has achieved this year is huge because he has won a lot of big races—in fact, nearly all of those he has had good horses for. Unfortunately, I've been missing a few key horses on that front, but in France he has been exemplary at the top level.

"He has fought hard for the Cravache d'Or throughout the year. There were a couple of difficult months for me where it looked hard to catch him, and, fortunately, things took a turn for the better and I was able to get back in the race. The last three or four weeks, battling with Pierre-Charles for the title, have been a lot of fun from my point of view."

While Boudot is already looking forward to the holidays, Soumillon will honor his six booked rides at Marseille-Vivaux Thursday evening—including the aptly named Belgian Gentleman—before drawing stumps.  

The 37-year-old now inches closer to the record 15 championships of Yves Saint-Martin on the flat, a figure which was matched by jump jockey Christophe Pieux. 

Outside of retaining his title, Soumillon has not enjoyed a vintage year, with his chief patrons—the Aga Khan and Jean-Claude Rouget— both enduring seasons that fell below their usual standards. 

"In terms of a single victory, then the Dubai World Cup (Sponsored by Emirates Airline, G1) with Thunder Snow was the highlight, but I also loved winning the Dubai Gold Cup (Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, G2) there with Vazirabad for the third time," said Soumillon.

"And I would add that these last three weeks have been great, being surrounded by my family as well as (riding agent) Steve Obry and (adviser) Dominique Boeuf. We have shared some great moments of joy, and it's been a real pleasure."