Mosse off to a Super start in Lion City
Gerald Mosse left a huge impression on the racing public of Singapore yesterday, riding a winning double including the Group One Lion City Cup (1,200m) on outsider Super Racer.
The S$350,000 ($1.58 million) Lion City Cup is now the richest sprint race in Singapore and was the highlight of yesterday's curtain raiser meeting, prior to today's S$3 million Singapore Airlines International Cup.
Mosse settled Super Racer in second place before claiming leader Always An Angel at the 200 metres. The $42 (for $5) chance then kept on well to withstand the late finish of stablemate Kronos to win by three-quarters of a length.
Mosse confessed he had not realised the sprint was a Group One race. 'I am sorry, I am not familiar with your racing, but it makes me even more happy now that I have come to this meeting and come away with a Group One,' he said.
'This is a big, strong horse. In fact, I was surprised how big [over 1,300 pounds] but he is a nice, smooth galloper and gave me a very good ride,' the Frenchman added.
The race was a huge letdown for fans because of the defeat of short-priced favourite Ninetyfive Emperor, who was expected to win easily and bring his Singapore record to 14 wins from 16 starts.
However, some 200 metres after the start, Ninetyfive Emperor became awkwardly placed and clipped heels, giving jockey Saimee Jumaat a nasty-looking fall. Saimee was later give the all-clear by club doctors.
Ninetyfive Emperor is a stablemate of Super Racer, but the thrill of winning the Lion City Cup for the fourth time in the last five years was not evident on the face of trainer Charles Leck.
'Naturally, I am pleased for the owners of Super Racer, and for the owners of Kronos,' Leck said. 'But this is still a dreadful thing. I really thought Ninetyfive Emperor would win easily. The last time he and Super Racer met, Super Racer finished almost 13 lengths behind Ninetyfive Emperor.'
The win gave Mosse a Singapore Group One at his third attempt, having previously finished second on his old favourite, Jim And Tonic, in the SIA International Cups of 2000 and 2001.
The first leg of Mosse's double was debutant Royal Captain ($18) in the opening event, a maiden race for two and three-year-olds. New Zealand-bred Royal Captain is trained by Laurie Laxon, who is currently in front on the Singapore trainers' premiership.
Mosse will ride Ain't Here for his retaining trainer, David Hayes, in tonight's Singapore International Cup, the second leg of this year's World Racing Series.
