Protesters fail to put the brakes on Mosse

GERALD Mosse made a triumphant return to French racing when taking the French Oaks on his way to a treble at a controversial Chantilly meeting on Sunday.

Mosse, who left Hongkong two meetings early after his split with Patrick Biancone, took the Classic by a nose from Baya on the Aga Khan's filly Shemaka.

The race, the Prix Diane Hermes, started more than two hours late after angry punters had earlier spilled on to the Chantilly track to protest at a betting office strike.

Mosse said last night: ''It was only by a nose but I knew my filly had won.

''It was a big moment for me as I won the race from the front to give the Aga Khan his first ever success in the race.

''She is a very good filly in the wet but it would be too early for me to say whether she could make up into a contender for the Arc.'' The Alain de Royer-Dupre trained Shemaka's victory had to be confirmed by stewards who spent a quarter of an hour studying a photo finish.

Mosse, who has now ridden four winners since arriving back in his native France last Monday, came storming home from the rear of the field in two subsequent races, including another for the Aga Khan as well as the day's big handicap.