Racing setback for Ballydoyle as Christophe Soumillon to miss Cambridgeshire event due to suspension
In a surprising turn of events, Christophe Soumillon, drafted as the number one rider for Ballydoyle, will miss out on the upcoming Newmarket races due to a series of suspensions.
Soumillon's recent run at Leopardstown was nothing short of spectacular, with his treble crowned by Delacroix's victory in the Irish Champion Stakes. However, his success was short-lived as the raceday stewards imposed a two-day ban on him following an incident coming out of the stalls on board Delacroix.
The whip review committee convened on Tuesday to review an incident involving Soumillon at Doncaster's Group 2 May Hill Stakes. As a result, he was found to have used the whip above the permitted level of six on the Flat in Britain, resulting in a six-day suspension from September 25 to 30 inclusive. This suspension, combined with another ban, will keep Soumillon away from the Group 1 Cheveley Park and Middle Park Stakes on September 27.
Soumillon partnered Sugar Island to finish third in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster, but his absence leaves True Love and Gstaad as possible Ballydoyle contenders for the Newmarket races.
Meanwhile, Ballydoyle's number one rider, Ryan Moore, is out for the remainder of the campaign due to a fractured femur. Aidan O'Brien, the trainer of Ballydoyle, expressed his disappointment, stating that he will not be represented by Moore and Donnacha O'Brien in the Newmarket Classics because both are banned.
Aidan O'Brien was impressed by Delacroix's performance in the Irish Champion Stakes and suggested that the horse may have run his last race. The win marked a significant moment for Delacroix, who had previously finished second in the St Leger and the Derby.
On a positive note, the return of Wayne Lordan from suspension on Friday will be extremely timely for the Ballydoyle team. Lordan lost an appeal against a ten-day suspension and will be unavailable for a significant period, including the Irish Champions Festival and Doncaster's four-day St Leger meeting.
In other news, Hollie Doyle is excited about a challenge in Hong Kong, while Shin Emperor has been ruled out of the Longchamp showpiece. Dylan Browne McMonagle is also set for a winter stint, adding to the changes in the Ballydoyle team.
As the racing season draws to a close, the suspensions and injuries have left Ballydoyle with a challenging line-up for the Newmarket races. The team will undoubtedly need to adapt and find new strengths to maintain their dominance in the racing world.
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