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Champion French jockey Christophe Soumillon to miss Hong Kong International Meeting.
Champion French jockey Christophe Soumillon will miss this Sunday's Hong Kong International Meeting after being required to complete further tests for covid-19. The jockey has received a licence to ride in Hong Kong for an extended period until 14 February. This being the situation, Soumillon was not eligible to be part of the visiting international jockey's 'racing bubble' and was required to complete a full two-week quarantine period.
The jockey contracted covid-19 just prior to the Breeders Cup meeting in early November but had received clearance of the disease following five tests prior to travelling to Hong Kong on 26 November. Once there he failed to meet the strict local guidelines in place.
He was scheduled to have nine rides at Sunday's meeting.
A statement issued stated:
'The Hong Kong Jockey Club has been informed by jockey Christophe Soumillon that he has been requested by the department of health to undergo further Covid-19 tests. It is unknown at this stage when the testing will be completed and when Soumillon will be released from quarantine…Despite having cleared his initial Covid-19 test on his arrival, he has yet to receive an unconditional release from quarantine in order to ride on this coming Sunday. The club has taken advice from its chief medical officer. Given these circumstances the stewards have decided to stand him down from Sunday's riding engagements.'
In an updated announcement:
'The Club has been informed by Jockey Christophe Soumillon that the COVID-19 test he received earlier today has returned negative…Soumillon has been tested twice as negative and completed the necessary quarantine…To prepare him for returning to race riding…Soumillon will take further tests…The earliest possible date for his return to race riding will be Sunday 20 December'
Soumillon had a strong book of rides including the Japanese horse Admire Mars who is defending his crown in the Hong Kong Mile (1600m).