‘Expensive mistake!’ – Christophe Soumillon pays £6,200 to cover costs of Rossa Ryan’s horse after shocking elbow push
CHRISTOPHE SOUMILLON'S crazy decision to push Rossa Ryan off his horse has proved costly - in more ways than one.
The Belgian was hit with a two-month ban for the shocking incident and lost his job as the Aga Khan's jockey - and he has also footed a £6,200 bill.
Soumillon offered to pay for the cost of running Captain Weirzba in France for the Group 3 Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud after he pushed Ryan out of the saddle mid-race.
And the 41-year-old was a man of his word, sending the horse's trainer Ralph Beckett more than £6,200 earlier today.
The Classic-winning trainer posted a picture of the transaction on Twitter with the caption: "Received today from C Soumillon, to cover Captain Weirzba’s expenses for trip to Saint Cloud."
The gesture was very well-received by fans on social media.
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One said: "Good on him, but Christ - not cheap!"
Another posted: "I don't think you can say or do fairer than that, Ralph? Apology spoken in actions not just words."
While another said: "A nice gesture, he is a class act. But it was an expensive mistake!"
Soumillon shocked the racing world when elbowing Ryan off Captain Weirzba on September 30.
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Thankfully Ryan was unhurt and Soumillon immediately apologised after the race.
He was controversially allowed to ride in the Arc de Triomphe just two days later, and he went on to finish second to Alpinista aboard Vadeni.
But just two days later it was revealed that he had lost his lucrative job as number one jockey to billionaire owner the Aga Khan.
He earned an estimated £500,000 a year as retained jockey, as well as taking a slice of breeding rights to the Aga Khan's stallions.
His ban runs until December 12, ruling him out of big meetings at the Breeders' Cup and the Japan Cup, as well as this weekend's fixture at British Champions Day.
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