Mickaël Barzalona, le meilleur jockey français, a publiquement appelé la British Horseracing Authority (BHA) à tester Christophe Soumillon après une course dramatique et controversée au Prix de la Coupe – Longchamp en juin 2025. Le monde entier des courses hippiques a été choqué lorsque les résultats du test de Christophe Soumillon ont été annoncés, Barzalona lui-même n’ayant pas pu cacher sa surprise.
The world of horse racing has once again been thrown into disarray following a remarkable turn of events at the prestigious Prix de la Coupe at Longchamp this June. The French racing community was left stunned when Mickaël Barzalona, widely regarded as the top jockey in France, made an unprecedented public demand for Christophe Soumillon to be tested by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) after what many described as one of the most controversial races of the season.
The tension had been building for weeks prior to the race, with whispers around the stables suggesting that something wasn’t quite right. Longchamp was buzzing with excitement and uncertainty as the field prepared for one of the marquee events of the Parisian flat racing calendar. Barzalona, coming off several strong performances earlier in the month, was among the favourites to take the title. But it was Christophe Soumillon, the Belgian superstar jockey with multiple Group 1 victories under his belt, who stole the headlines with a daring and, some claimed, suspicious ride.
As the gates opened, Soumillon’s mount took an aggressive early lead, setting fractions far quicker than expected for the conditions. Despite the early pace, the horse seemed almost unnaturally powerful in the closing furlongs, fending off challenges from Barzalona and others with ease. Spectators were divided. Some hailed it as a masterclass of front-running riding; others murmured about the apparent abnormal stamina of Soumillon’s horse, sparking immediate debate in racing circles.
It didn’t take long for the controversy to escalate. Just hours after the finish, Barzalona broke his silence in an explosive post-race interview, publicly calling for an official test to be conducted by the BHA, renowned for its strict anti-doping procedures. His statement was direct, firm, but without personal malice, emphasizing that the integrity of the sport was at stake. “I respect Christophe’s achievements, but we owe it to the fans, the owners, and the industry to ensure that everything is above board,” Barzalona stated.
What followed was one of the fastest-moving testing processes in recent memory. Within days, the BHA confirmed that tests had been carried out on both Soumillon and his horse. The results, announced last night, sent shockwaves throughout the racing community. While details remain tightly guarded by officials, reliable sources within racing media have confirmed that irregularities were indeed detected, although the exact substances involved have not yet been publicly disclosed.
Barzalona’s reaction to the news was one of clear disbelief. Known for his composed and charismatic presence, the French champion admitted in a brief statement that he was “shocked” by the findings. “This is not what I wanted. I hoped to be proven wrong. I hoped this was just hard riding on a good horse. But now, we have to ask more questions.”
The reverberations of this scandal are expected to continue for weeks, if not months, as the investigation deepens. For now, the Prix de la Coupe, usually a celebration of equine excellence, has become a symbol of controversy, casting a long shadow over Christophe Soumillon’s illustrious career and shaking the foundations of European flat racing.
