Retirement? Mosse’s too in love with race-riding

Retiring jockeys was a theme at the Saudi Cup meeting in Riyadh last weekend but one veteran who is not in any hurry to hang up his race-riding boots for a final time is Gerald Mosse.

The Frenchman will not follow Yuichi Fukunaga into retirement any time soon, he hopes, nor does he wish to outline a retirement plan à la Frankie Dettori or Joao Moreira, even though he does have ambitions to become a trainer.

Mosse has in fact bought stables in an ideal spot from which to launch that second career, but for now he is enjoying the continuation of his race-riding career into his 57th year, and perhaps beyond.

“I will keep riding for this full season, based in France,” he told Asian Racing Report after an unplaced ride on the Bahraini raider Byline in the G3 Neom Turf Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Sunday.

“Everything is fine, I feel good and I have support from Mr (Mikel) Delzangles and a couple of big stables, so I’m very pleased about that. We’ll see how things are at the end of the season.

“I’ve bought a stable and I’m preparing for a second career but that’s not now.”

The property is Le Manoir du Sanglier, built early last century and once owned by the trainer William Head, the father of Alec Head and grandfather of Freddy Head and Criquette Head-Maarek, all top trainers in their time, and great-grandfather of current trainer Christopher Head.

“It’s at Chantilly, near the track; it’s a beautiful spot. Willie Head, he built the place, I believe,” Mosse said.

“It’s a beautiful house, 40 boxes, the family is happy, it’s right next to the school so it’s a really comfortable place to be, even for the gallops as well, so as a jockey it’s a convenient spot.”

Mosse is one of the most decorated jockeys in Hong Kong history, having won the Derby there three times, as well as each of the four Group 1 Hong Kong International Races two times apiece among a slew of major triumphs. His big-race haul globally includes the Melbourne Cup, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and each of the French Classics multiple times.

“I’m always happy to ride anyway, it’s not my job, it’s my hobby, so why should I not keep my hobby if my mind is right and my body is physically able to carry on?” he said.

“Right now, I am doing the renovations to the property and when everything is set up we will figure out what to do. So, I will ride this year for sure and then look at it and find out if I will continue to ride after that. If it’s possible, I will carry on.” 

Fukunaga’s last ride: smiles, tears and relief