Christophe Soumillon will be under the spotlight more than ever when he rides last year’s top French colt Dabirsim in the 2000 Guineas at Longchamp.
The 30-year-old Belgian-born jockey was judged to have been at fault when Dabirsim suffered his first defeat on his return to the track this season in the Prix de Fontainebleau last month.
He was judged to have been far too confident on the horse allowing Dragon Pulse, who re-opposes on Sunday, to edge him and inflict his first defeat in six starts.
The defeat also brought into question owner Simon Springer’s surprise decision to sign Soumillon as the horse’s jockey this season at the expense of Italian great Frankie Dettori.
Dettori had ridden Dabirsim to his two Group One wins last season including the Prix Jean Luc Lagardere which was the jockey’s 100th at the highest level.
Dabirsim’s young trainer Christophe Ferland believes both Soumillon and his stable star can put the defeat behind them and restore his reputation.
“Victory on Sunday will set the record straight and put the defeat firmly in its context,” Ferland said.
“I have forgotten about the Fontainebleau and just focused on this race as it was always his major target for this part of the season.
“Of course there were comments made about the manner of his defeat but honestly while it is a shame that he lost his unbeaten record, there could be no better consolation than winning the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Guineas).
“Christophe will be better for having ridden him and got to know him and is desperate to exact revenge.”
Dabirsim will have 11 rivals including Dragon Pulse who is now with Melbourne Cup winning trainer Mikel Delzangles after being transferred from Jessica Harrington in Ireland.
Crack Irish handler Aidan O’Brien will saddle two runners in his bid to add to his English Guineas double at Newmarket last weekend and will have set the nerves jangling of his rivals by supplementing Furners Green, who comes here after winning a Group Three last time out.
The English 2000 Guineas form will get an immediate test as Richard Hannon saddles Coup de Ville fresh from his fifth behind O’Brien’s Camelot last Saturday.
Soumillon has a great chance of repeating the French Guineas double he pulled off in 2003 with Clodovil and Musical Chimes as he rides the Ellie Lellouche-trained unbeaten filly Beauty Parlour in the 1000 Guineas.
She could face a strong challenge from the Andre Fabre-trained Petite Noblesse, who ran out a six-length winner of her warm-up race a fortnight ago.
