Jockey Florent Geroux celebrates after guiding Hit Show to victory in the $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan on Saturday.. Photos by Muhammad Sajjad
American raider Hit Show lived up to his name in sensational fashion, delivering a powerhouse performance to claim the 29th Dubai World Cup (Group 1) at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday night. Ridden confidently by Kentucky-based French jockey Florent Geroux and trained by Eclipse Award-winning handler Brad H. Cox, the American colt surged to the front in the home stretch and, despite drifting across the track in the final furlong, still had plenty left in the tank.Hit Show crossed the line a length and three-quarters clear of fellow US contender Mixto, ridden by four-time Dubai World Cup-winning jockey Frankie Dettori, sealing a famous win for the Cox-Geroux partnership.
Ante-post favourite Forever Young from Japan showed signs of race fitness following his grueling win in the $20 million Saudi Cup just four weeks ago to run on for third place while local hope Walk of Stars, trained by defending champion Bhupat Seemar and ridden by French star Mickael Barzalona, ran a courageous race from the inside draw.
Walk of Stars showed early intent and stayed on gamely to finish a creditable fourth in one of the world’s richest and most prestigious races.
Moments after guiding Hit Show to an unforgettable victory Geroux was still coming to terms with the scale of the achievement.Asked when he knew he had the race in the bag, he said with a smile: At “100 metres. Forever Young was my target, but he was not troubling me at all. My horse fought very well, and he runs for me all the time. To be honest with you, I was just running for a place – top four – but this horse gave me more.”
Despite being slow out of the gates in recent starts, Hit Show turned up on the biggest stage with a surge that stunned even his rider.
“This horse is not slow, but lately he’s been in the back of the pack for some reason,” Geroux explained. “He was again today, but he was travelling very well for me. I could tell Forever Young wasn’t moving as comfortably behind me, and I thought I was in a good spot. There was some bumping, but I found a seam on the inside, put my horse through it, and he responded instantly. He gave me everything to get over the line.”
