LEGENDARY trainer Aidan O’Brien has been slammed as ‘tone-deaf’ for picking Christophe Soumillon to ride one of his horses in a $1million (£740,000) race.
Soumillon shocked the sporting world when pushing Rossa Ryan off a horse mid-race in France last week.
O’Brien was branded ‘tone-deaf’ for allowing Soumilon to ride Order Of Australia, even though he and the horse’s owners are within their rights to
Soumillon shocked the sporting world when he pushed Ryan off his horse mid-race
Ryan, 22, miraculously avoided serious injury and Soumillon, 41, was given a 60-day ban.
However, the ban does not kick in until October 14, meaning the Belgian was free to ride and finish second in the Arc de Triomphe – Europe’s richest race – last weekend.
Soumillon was sacked from his £500,000 retainer with the Aga Khan two days later.
But he has been picked for a plum ride on Order Of Australia in a mega-money race in the US on Saturday night.
Soumillon has the chance to bag £444,444 with victory in the one mile Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes.
As jockey he can expect to get as much as ten per cent of the winnings with victory on top of his rider’s fee.
Order Of Australia is owned in part by Coolmore boss and former Manchester United owner John Magnier’s wife Sue.
But respected US racing journalist Ray Paulick slammed Coolmore and O’Brien’s decision to grant Soumillon the ride.
He wrote on Twitter: “What a bad look for racing the Christophe Soumillon saga has been.
“First, after his horrendous actions in the saddle, @francegalop allows him to ride the biggest weekend of the year in the Arc, setting beginning of 60-day suspension at Oct 14 (what big meets will he miss?).
“Then Coolmore and Aidan O’Brien make a tone-deaf decision to name Soumillon on Order of Australia in a Grade 1 race at Keeneland on Saturday.
“There were no other jockeys available? Come on.”
Soumillon faced widespread condemnation for his shove on Ryan, but some punters thought it was fair game for him to ride before his suspension begins.
One replied to Paulick: “He’s allowed to ride, he’s been punished, it starts on the 14th. If it started earlier they wouldn’t be riding him.”
And another said: “Not O’Brien’s nor Keeneland’s job to investigate or enforce rules. If a jock is legally available, then he/she is available.”
