Jockey Soumillon out for Hong Kong International Races

Star jockey Christophe Soumillon will sit out Sunday's Hong Kong International Races because of COVID restrictions.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club said in a news release that Soumillon informed it that he has been requested by the Department of Health to undergo further COVID tests.

It is unknown at this stage when the testing will be completed and when Soumillon will be released from quarantine.

Soumillon was licensed by the club on the basis that he would undergo a mandatory 14 days quarantine, according to the release. He arrived in Hong Kong on Nov. 26 and began this 14-day quarantine.

HR Racing reports that the 39-year-old Belgian jockey tested positive for COVID before the Breeders' Cup in early November and that he tested negative five times before making the trip to Hong Kong.

Despite having cleared his initial COVID-19 test on his arrival, he has yet to receive an unconditional release from quarantine in order to ride on  Sunday, according to the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

The club said it has taken advice from its chief medical officer. Given these circumstances, the stewards have decided to stand him down from Sunday’s riding engagements.