Happy Lucky Dragon Win | Mosse: absolutely brilliant one day, three-deep no cover the next

Other than the overly scrutinised Douglas Whyte, there isn’t a jockey that attracts more criticism from punters than Gerald Mosse. However, there may not be a rider more capable of an almost artistic brilliance in a high stakes staying race than the Frenchman.

It’s inevitable that Whyte would be the target of the punters’ scorn at Sha Tin and Happy Valley. A tick under half the horses he rides are either first or second favourites, and they can’t all win, so regardless of how the Durban Demon is actually riding, he will still cop plenty from the voracious crowds.

 

The gripe from some punters with Mosse is that he seems to get stuck wide with no cover more often than most and shows a lack of urgency in lower grade races. We will never have any real proof of the first claim unless Trakus starts working, but Mosse certainly seems to save some superb rides for special occasions. There was A$6.2 million on offer in last Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup with rich prizemoney down to 10th so there was no questioning anyone’s, let alone Mosse’s, intensity.

 

The Frenchman’s effort in defeat on 60-1 shot Red Cadeaux in the Cup is worth another look, for it’s hard to imagine how he could have ridden the Ed Dunlop-trained, Ron Arculli-owned horse any better.