“I’ll be honest with you, I was running for a place and he gave me more. I can’t quite believe it.” – jockey Florent Geroux after his winning ride on Hit Show in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1)
Wathnan Racing’s HIT SHOW (Candy Ride (Arg)) 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.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Hit Show was 40-to-1 in the 1 1/4 mile Dubai World Cup and he earned 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.
Bred by Gary and Mary West in Kentucky, Hit Show had over $1.4 million in earnings heading into the World Cup. Last summer he was sold privately by the Wests to Wathnan Racing, which is owned by the Emir of Qatar. Hit Show won the Grade Withers two years ago and was fifth in the Kentucky Derby behind Mage. In the last year the sturdy grey has won the West Virginia Governors’ Stakes, the Fayette Stakes (G3) and the Louisiana Handicap (G3). In his last start before heading to the Middle East, Hit Show was third, beaten 12 lengths, to Locked in the Santa Anita Derby.
The World Cup win earned Hit Show $6.9 million, bringing his career earnings to $8.4 million with a record of 18-9-1-1.
Canadian racing fans may remember Hit Show’s granddam, MILWAUKEE APPEAL (Milwaukee Brew) who won the 2009 Woodbine Oaks for breeder C.E.C. Farms of Eugene George and trainer Scott Fairlie. Milwaukee Appeal went on to finish second in the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes and Grade 1 Alabama, plus win other stakes races, earning over $1.1 million.
Purchased by the Wests, Milwaukee Appeal has produced four winners. Her first foal, Actress, won the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) and Comley Stakes (G3) and she is the dam of Hit Show.
Milwaukee Appeal has a three-year-old colt by Medaglia D’Oro who is placed this year, Hot Property.
Milwaukee Appeal was produced from the two-time winning mare Appealing Forum.
Quotes:
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 traveling 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.”
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.”
Trainer Doug O’Neill said: “I thought Mixto ran 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 Saudi 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.”