Christophe Lemaire will be retained as the Aga Khan’s first rider in France
in 2010, it was announced on the Aga Khan Studs website Friday.
Lemaire will still ride first-call for the Niarchos Family, with whom he had
just signed a one-year contract. When not required to ride the Niarchos horses,
he will partner the Aga Khan’s French-trained runners.
“Christophe Lemaire has proved himself at the highest level of his profession
over recent years, following his Group 1 winning associations with Divine
Proportions, Pride, Natagora and most recently, Elusive Wave, Le Havre and
Stacelita,” the release stated.
“The Aga Khan Studs are looking forward to starting an association with
Christophe Lemaire next year and believe this arrangement will work for them and
the Niarchos Family.”
The move comes just three days after the Aga Khan Studs revealed that
Christophe Soumillon’s contract would not be extended because “human relations
have become difficult.”
Soumillon, who has served as the Aga Khan’s first rider in France since 2002,
will continue to hold that position through the remainder of the 2009 French
Flat season.
“This separation has been agreed on amicable terms,” according to the
statement issued by the Aga Khan Studs, and Soumillon “could well be retained in
the future to ride Aga Khan horses.”
During his tenure, Soumillon had guided such Aga Khan stars as Dalakhani and
Zarkava.