Christophe Soumillon: 'Arrogant? I just respond the same way people speak to me'

First published on Saturday, September 3

Nearly two decades have come and gone since Christophe Soumillon got his first taste of Irish racing, but the scars of that initial visit have stayed with him to this day.

Irish Derby weekend in 2003 brought with it a host of intrigue and excitement around the bright-eyed boy from Brussels. National newspapers were abuzz with lengthy features introducing the 22-year-old ahead of his maiden voyage to Irish shores – hardly a surprise given his growing reputation in France.