Five of the best: Christophe Soumillon's finest moments for the Aga Khan

Christophe Soumillon will no longer ride as retained jockey for the Aga Khan, a role he held between 2002-09 and then again from 2014-2022. We look back at five of the best moments the duo shared.

Dalakhani
2003 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

A first victory in the Arc for Christophe Soumillon capped a brilliant career for Dalakhani, during which time he won eight of his nine starts. Sent off second favourite for the Arc behind High Chaparral, Dalakhani moved menacingly through the race under Soumillon before running down Mubtaker inside the final furlong. A tearful Soumillon threw his helmet into the crowd upon returning to the paddock, overcome at landing such a major prize.

Shawanda
2005 Irish Oaks

Rarely do you see a Classic where one runner is so utterly dominant, but Shawanda was head, shoulders and so much more above her rivals at the Curragh. The filly surged past her opponents nearing the final two furlongs and was then allowed to coast home to win by five lengths. While jockeys are prone to hyperbole after the race, few disagreed with Soumillon's assessment that the filly could have won by double the distance if asked to do so.

Shawanda is breathtaking in the Irish Oaks

Zarkava
2008 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Perhaps the best horse Soumillon and the Aga Khan have been associated with as she went through two unblemished seasons littered with top-level triumphs. Having captured the Prix Marcel Boussac, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane, the filly then overcame a sluggish start to land the Prix Vermeille. Come Arc day, Zarkava was given a tap on the backside by a stalls handler to make sure she broke on terms and used her scintillating turn of foot to end her career on the highest high. Soumillon's helmet, again, was launched into the crowds after the race.

Ervedya
2015 Coronation Stakes

Successful in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches on her previous start, Ervedya established herself as the leading three-year-old filly over a mile under a cool ride from Soumillon. Steadied towards the rear in a race that featured the likes of Arabian Queen, Found and Miss Temple City, Ervedya was allowed to creep into the race by Soumillon before he deployed her change of pace perfectly to run down Found in a pulsating conclusion to one of Royal Ascot's highlights.

Vadeni
2022 Eclipse

Punching the air as his mount approached the line, Soumillon knew it was a major victory for Vadeni at Sandown as the three-year-old stepped up to beat his elders. It was a smart performance from the colt and a typically astute ride from his jockey. After the line, Soumillon was less clever as he allowed his mount to drift across and cause severe interference, resulting in a 12-day ban. Unfortunately for him, it would prove not to be the jockey's greatest indiscretion of the year.

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