King ‘thrilled’ after first taste of victory

Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore, who provided Queen Elizabeth II with her biggest winner in over 70 years as an owner when Estimate won the 2013 Ascot Gold Cup, combined to give the King his first winner in the royal silks when Just Fine won at Leicester yesterday.

Just Fine was the King’s sixth runner since he inherited both the horses and colours from his mother. A spokesman for the King and the Queen Consort said: “Their Majesties are thrilled.”

The gelding has won as a twoyear-old, three-year-old and, now, as a four-year-old, having come from behind to win the Kube –

Leicester’s Premier Event Hire Handicap by 4½ lengths. “We’re all delighted for the King and Queen Consort that they have had their first winner in the Sovereign’s colours,” said his racing adviser John Warren. “As you can appreciate, their Royal Highnesses have much to think about at present, but I’m sure this will be a nice pick-me-up.”

Annually, the late Queen always thinned out her string to make way for the next year’s two-year-olds by selling a few older horses, and the winning gelding is one of a number of royal horses who have an entry in the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-intraining Sale this month.

Meanwhile, jump racing at Huntingdon was abandoned after two races because of unsafe ground. Jockeys felt their mounts were slipby

ping and the decision was taken after an inspection. Clerk of the course Roderick Duncan described conditions (dry ground and lush grass) as very challenging. “I didn’t come into this job to put horses on the floor or jockeys in hospital,” he said. “I have to agree with those of the opinion that it wasn’t safe to continue.”

Ludlow’s first fixture of the season, meant to be today, has been abandoned because of hard ground.

Christophe Soumillon, the 10-time French champion jockey who was banned last week for elbowing a competitor off his horse, has been jettisoned by Aga Khan Studs as the fallout continues over the controversy at Saint-cloud.

Princess Zahra Aga Khan had said at Longchamp on Saturday that the jockey’s actions had been reprehensible. A statement put out by her father’s studs yesterday said they had taken the decision to cease their retainer with Soumillon with immediate effect.

The repercussions from the incident started last Friday, when Soumillon elbowed Rossa Ryan off Captain Wierzba, which resulted in a 60-day ban. However, yesterday’s statement also made it fairly clear that finishing second on Vadeni to Alpinista in the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe on Sunday was unlikely to be Soumillon’s last ride for the operation. He may still ride in the Aga Khan silks at the discretion of the French trainers and the Aga Khan Studs’ team. No jockey would be retained in France for the foreseeable future.

Soumillon told the Racing Post: “I am very disappointed to lose my retainer, but am proud and honoured to have held such a highly esteemed position for so long. I realise I have bridges to rebuild, and am determined to show commitment to those owners and trainers that wish to engage my services.”

Soumillon, 41, has won countless big races on Aga Khan horses, including both his Arcs on Dalakhani and Zarkava.