CHRISTOPHE Soumillon’s ride aboard Thunder Snow in the Breeders’ Cup Classic has drawn a wide-range of comment in the past week, and there is much to take out of it, although little that can be deemed positive. His was not the most egregious use of the whip at the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Churchill Downs, or indeed the worst display by a European-based rider in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Those dubious honours go to Joe Talamo for his hideous display aboard Dabster in the Marathon on Saturday’s undercard, and who could forget Frankie Dettori’s display which saw Swain beaten in the Classic when more circumspect use of the whip would almost certainly have won him the race.