Aidan O'Brien reveals Ryan Moore unlikely to return from injury until 2026
Ballydoyle's number one jockey has been sidelined by a stress fracture of the femur since the start of September and Christophe Soumillon brought in as a temporary replacement
Ryan Moore is unlikely to be back in the saddle until next year, trainer Aidan O’Brien revealed on Thursday.
The world’s number one jockey who is retained to ride for O’Brien’s powerful Ballydoyle stable has been sidelined since the start of September after being diagnosed with a stress fracture of the femur. At the time O’Brien suggested the 42-year-old rider faced an indefinite period in recovery and as a result Christophe Soumillon was brought in as a top quality replacement.
Moore has missed a series of big race meetings as Soumillon has plundered four Group 1 prizes on Ballydoyle horses, winning the Irish Champion Stakes on Delacroix, Prix Marcel Boussac on Diamond Necklace, Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Puerto Rico and the Fillies’ Mile on Precise. He also rode Minnie Hauk to finish a head second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
On Saturday at Ascot ten-time French champion jockey Soumillon has mounts in four Group 1 races for O’Brien on Qipco British Champion’s Day.
He will partner Stay True in the Long Distance Cup, Bedtime Story in the Fillies & Mares, The Lion In Winter in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Delacroix in the Champion Stakes.
Now Soumillon appears set to continue in the role, with Wayne Lordan in support, for the rest of 2025, including the Breeders’ Cup in November, despite Moore, 42, having attended two recent Newmarket fixtures with O’Brien as a spectator.
O’Brien, speaking during a Champions Day media conference, said: “Christophe’s rode plenty for us over the years and Ryan seems to be in good form and I think he’s getting there.”
Asked when Moore could be back, he added: “I would imagine it will be next year. I can’t see any different.
“Ryan will tell you more, but the injury that he had he is going to have to give it time and obviously I know Ryan will be thinking long term rather than short term.”