Hit Show Stuns with Late Dubai World Cup Win
$12,000,000 Group 1 Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates
Alan Carasso
Wathnan Racing’s Hit Show foiled Forever Young’s attempt at completing the valuable Saudi Cup/Dubai World Cup double, weaving his way through the Meydan straight to run down his fellow American-bred and -based outsider Mixto in the US$12 million feature. Forever Young, who never appeared entirely comfortable in transit, did his best work late, but it was only good enough to touch Walk of Stars out of third.
Florent Geroux, who rode Gun Runner to a runner-up effort behind the other-worldly performance turned in by Arrogate here eight years ago. was content to settle Hit Show behind mid-division, as the rail-drawn Walk of Stars set the pace from Mixto – ridden by four-time World Cup winner Frankie Dettori – through the opening exchanges.
Third or fourth-last down the back, Hit Show was full of run on the turn, but was quietly ridden and still had a good 10 lengths to find, as Walk of Stars and Mixto continued to mix it up on top. Geroux gave Hit Show his cue with about 500 meters left, decisively taking a split between Katonah and a weakening Imperial Emperor in upper stretch. Steered to the inside of Wilson Tesoro inside the final furlong, he took aim on the joint leaders and raced over the top of them to cause a boilover.
Forever Young traveled with none of the fluidity he did when scoring in Riyadh 42 days ago, but showed his battling qualities late on to earn the third spot.
With the victory, Hit Show earns an all-expenses-paid trip to the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on November 1. And trainer Brad Cox indicated that all roads would lead to the American showpiece for his five-year-old.
Geroux said: “Only at the 100m did I think I could win! When I passed a lot of horses. Forever Young was my target and he was not travelling at all. I tried to find another horse to follow, from there my horse was game. For some reason, he just runs for me all the time, he is amazing.
