The French connection is the right one to have at this time of year in Hong Kong - just ask Gerald Mosse, the man hoping to pass countryman Olivier Peslier to become the most successful jockey in Hong Kong International Races history. Mosse briefly shared the title with Peslier on six wins last year, after he claimed the Hong Kong Vase aboard Daryakana, but his time at the top was short-lived, and Peslier reclaimed the outright lead on Vision D'Etat in the Hong Kong Cup three hours later.With a
The French connection is the right one to have at this time of year in Hong Kong - just ask Gerald Mosse, the man hoping to pass countryman Olivier Peslier to become the most successful jockey in Hong Kong International Races history. Mosse briefly shared the title with Peslier on six wins last year, after he claimed the Hong Kong Vase aboard Daryakana, but his time at the top was short-lived, and Peslier reclaimed the outright lead on Vision D'Etat in the Hong Kong Cup three hours later.
With a huge contingent of 10 runners from France this year, there is the potential for more "merci beaucoups" to be heard at Sha Tin on Sunday than in a Paris cafe - and big-race rider Mosse is first in line to be carrying the famous tri-coloured flag for the raiding party.
His strong relationship with master French trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre stands him in excellent stead and has already yielded superb results this year, including an historic French win in the 150th Melbourne Cup with Americain.
Americain will form the back-bone of Mosse's hopes on Sunday as favourite to claim the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase, but with other aces like the De Royer Dupre-trained stablemate Reggane in the Cup, Tony Cruz's Beauty Flash in the Mile and Caspar Fownes' sprinter Lucky Nine up his sleeve, Mosse is by no means a one-trick pony.
"There is no doubt Lucky Nine is the best young horse coming through the ranks in Hong Kong," Mosse said. "It's difficult to say he's as strong as Sacred Kingdom or the other older horses just yet, but I don't think he gave me everything he had in the straight last time in the Jockey Club Sprint, so maybe he can still find some improvement."
Mosse accompanied Beauty Flash in the Jockey Club Mile and is confident that last year's Champions Mile winner is ready to improve at the right time. "Beauty Flash ran well to finish fourth, but I did not think he was 100 per cent at the peak of his preparation that day," Mosse said. "I will keep the race tactics close to my chest, I don't want the whole world to know if we will lead or not, and I will also discuss it with Tony on raceday and follow his instructions, too.
"To be honest I don't think he has to lead. If Able One or Sight Winner want to take up the running again we can drop in behind if need be."
While his local rides have claims to the shorter features, it is the might of the De Royer-Dupre trained stayers that can boost Mosse to his seventh Hong Kong international win.
"Reggane galloped over 1,400 metres on the turf this morning, and I must admit she gave me a different feeling in her work than she does at home in France," he said. "She almost seems to relax more in the new surrounds, and was travelling much easier in her work. As she is at her best over 1-1/4 miles [2,000m] she should be ideally suited to the Hong Kong Cup, especially if there is a good tempo. She won her last race in Canada over this distance in October when the pace was strong, and if I could have one wish it would be that they gallop along in front again."
As for his headline horse Americain, Mosse is confident the Melbourne Cup winner can extend his remarkable winning streak to six and gift his jockey and trainer a back-to-back double in the event.
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