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 outsider Mixto in the US$12 million feature on Saturday.
Florent Geroux has Hit Show flying to beat Mixto and Frankie Dettori in a thriller (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
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 Gr1 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.
Florent Geroux shows his delight after Hit Show beat Mixto (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
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.
“I’ll be honest with you, I was running for a place and he gave me more. I can’t quite believe it. I’ll take it though! Gun Runner (second to Arrogate in 2017) was such a great horse and he couldn’t do it, it was a very tough beat, but Hit Show has done it.”
Cox said: “I still can’t quite believe it, it’s unbelievable. I would have loved to be there but just with so much going on with these three-year-olds and trying to get to the (Kentucky) Derby, I couldn’t make it. However, he was in good hands with the people I sent over with him. It’s a great accomplishment and we have a great team that allows us to spread ourselves out and travel when the opportunities are there.
“He ran a great race in California and it set him up well. The mile and a quarter is his trip, he ran well in the Kentucky Derby and out to a mile and a half in the Belmont but he hasn’t got out in trip properly until his last two starts. We always knew that ground was his thing, the further the better. He’s a classy horse, he’s shipped all over and now he’s a Dubai World Cup winner.”
Mixto (2nd), jockey Frankie Dettori said: “There’s good prize money for second! He ran superb. He was a genuine outsider. I knew he was underrated because he’s a good old warrior who loves the distance and he loves an outside post. I had the perfect trip. I couldn’t complain. It’s just a shame he got beaten on the line.”
Trainer Doug O’Neill said: “I thought Mixto ran the lights out and Frankie is just a legend for so many reasons. He had him in a great spot without having to use much of him. I thought he had enough in the end but he got outrun late. He ran super. I’m very proud of everybody.”
Forever Young (3rd), jockey Ryusei Sakai said: “We had to win this race and I am disappointed. He ran a great race in Sudi and I expected him to win if he ran his race but it was a tough race as he was the horse to beat. It was tough and we did our best. He wasn’t traveling at all. It wasn’t an easy race and hard to keep winning.”
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi said: “We were the away team and Forever Young got worked up because of it. That’s no excuse though.”
Walk Of Stars (4th), jockey Mickael Barzalona said: “He ran very well but I would have preferred to have been able to control the race for longer. I got pressure from my outside earlier than I wanted but that’s racing.”
Trainer Bhupat Seemar said: “Walk Of Stars ran a super race. Maybe if he didn’t go to Saudi Arabia, he could have finished better. We saw that all the horses that participated at the Saudi Cup were beaten today. So it is not easy to do both races. He just got tired in the end.”
