The Soumillon family were hosted by Stephen and Jessica Jell at Mauritzfontein Stud recently and Christophe was able to spend some time with his old friend Shea Shea, who is now 15 years old but still looking in fine shape.
Christope Soumillon and Shea Shea thrilled racing fans with their global feats in 2013.
The Klawervlei Stud-bred National Emblem gelding had won the Grade 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint as a three-year-old carrying 58kg and the following season had won the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint, among other victories in South Africa.
He was trained by Geoff Woodruff and ridden by Anthony Delpech and Piere Strydom respectively for those two Grade 1 wins in SA.
He then departed for overseas where he was trained by Mike de Kock.
Shea Shea won the Listed Meydan Sprint with Soumillon aboard in his first race in Dubai.
The pair followed up by winning the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint.
Both races were over 1000m on the Meydan turf course.
They then ran second together in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes over five furlongs at the Royal Ascot meeting.
They followed that with a fourth place finish in the Group 1 July Cup over six furlongs at Newmarket.
Franke Dettori was aboard when Shea Shea ran a half-a-length second in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes over five furlongs at York.
However, Soumillon was back aboard when he ran third in the 2014 Al Quoz Sprint and for two unplaced runs in the King’s Stand and Nunthorpe respectively.
