He gave me more, says jockey Florent Geroux after ending long wait for victory

Dubai: Eight years after finishing second with a champion, Florent Geroux finally has his Dubai World Cup.

The French jockey, who was narrowly denied aboard Gun Runner in 2017, returned to Meydan with Hit Show — and this time, there was no Arrogate to deny him. In a thrilling finish to Saturday night’s $12 million showpiece, the five-year-old surged past a tiring Forever Young to write a new script of his own.

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.”

Wathnan Racing’s Hit Show weaved his way through the Meydan straight to run down fellow American-bred outsider Mixto in the feature race. Forever Young, who never appeared entirely comfortable in transit, did his best work late, but it was only good enough to edge Walk of Stars out of third.

With the victory, Hit Show earns an all-expenses-paid trip to the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on November 1. Trainer Brad Cox indicated that all roads would lead to the American showpiece for his five-year-old.

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.”

Geroux 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 early 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 metres 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 at the joint leaders and raced over the top of them to cause a boilover.

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.”

The 2,000-metre dirt showpiece saw 11 of the world’s best battle for glory. The eight-year-old Ushba Tesoro, who stormed to victory in 2023, was bidding to defend his crown but could manage only sixth this time around.

For Geroux, Hit Show’s late heroics were more than a win — they were a moment of long-awaited redemption. And with the Breeders’ Cup Classic now in his sights, the five-year-old may have only just begun his run on the world stage.