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Melbourne Cup winner Gérald Mossé bids farewell to riding

16 July 2024 Written by VRC

At 57, champion French jockey Gérald Mossé has retired from a career in the saddle after four decades. Renowned for his elegant riding style, Moose leaves behind an impressive legacy.

Mossé, who plans to transition into training, boasts some of the sport’s most coveted prizes. These include the 1990 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Saumarez, five French Oaks, three French Derbies, and of course, the 2010 Melbourne Cup on Americain. He also enjoyed successful spells riding in Hong Kong, and retires just shy of 100 Group 1 victories.

“You have to know when it’s time to go,” said Mossé, during his retirement announcement. “After long reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to move on to my second career. Riding racehorses has been my passion, and I hope the second part of my racing life will be even better.”

Mossé, who took out a trainer’s licence in 2022, has his stables ready in Chantilly, the headquarters of French flat racing north of Paris.

Reflecting on his Melbourne Cup win, Mossé said, “Probably, one of the greatest memories in horse racing is to be able to win a race like that. The crowd, the atmosphere, everything was there on that day. When you come back into the winners’ enclosure, you don’t even walk; you don’t touch the ground. It’s like you become in one minute from jockey to rockstar.”

His victory in the Melbourne Cup left an indelible mark. “The Australian people love that race, and you can feel it.”