Hit Show Claims Historic $12M Dubai World Cup Victory
Hit Show, a 41-1 outsider, pulled off a stunning upset at the Dubai World Cup 2025 and captured the prestigious $12 million prize. The underdog outperformed a field of elite international competitors. Brad Cox’s trained horse delivered an impressive performance with jockey Florent Geroux at the reins. They completed the 2,000-meter course in 2:03.50 despite the scorching 100-degree weather. Pre-race favorite Forever Young finished third, while Hit Show dominated the race that headlined a spectacular nine-race card at Meydan with a total prize pool of $30.5 million. The victory gave Hit Show his first Group 1 win and earned him an automatic invitation to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, pushing his lifetime earnings to $8,406,928.
Hit Show Stuns Racing World with Last-Minute Surge
Image Source: Thoroughbred Daily News
American-bred Hit Show stunned the racing world with a sensational victory at Meydan Racecourse in the AED 44.06 million Dubai World Cup. The five-year-old bay colt shocked racing fans worldwide as he charged late past favored rivals in the final moments of horse racing’s richest dirt contest.
Geroux Charts Perfect Path Through Field
French jockey Florent Geroux delivered a masterclass in tactical riding and settled Hit Show mid-pack throughout the 2,000-meter contest. His mount raced well behind the leaders as Walk of Stars set the early pace with Mixto tracking closely.
“He was traveling very well for me,” Geroux explained. “I could tell Forever Young wasn’t moving as comfortably behind me, and I thought I was in a good spot”.
The race changed dramatically 500 meters from home when Geroux guided his mount decisively through a gap between Katonah and Imperial Emperor. This perfectly timed move set up Hit Show’s closing surge.
“There was some bumping, but I found a seam on the inside, put my horse through it, and he responded instantly,” Geroux noted. The jockey maneuvered his mount inside of Wilson Tesoro in the final furlong before launching his winning attack.
Geroux admitted, “Only at the 100 meters 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”.
41-1 Longshot Defies All Expectations
Hit Show’s victory at odds of 41-1 ranks among the biggest upsets in Dubai World Cup history. Brad Cox’s contender had never won at the Group 1 level, which made his triumph against an elite international field even more remarkable.
The horse had won eight races before this victory, but his resume showed only Grade 2 victories in the Lukas Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Fayette Stakes at Keeneland. Yet he proved his worth on racing’s grandest stage.
“I was running for a place and he gave me more. I can’t quite believe it,” confessed an emotional Geroux after the race. The victory meant everything to both rider and trainer – Geroux calling it “one of those races you dream about”.
Trainer Brad Cox celebrated from Kentucky, where he prepared horses for the upcoming Kentucky Derby. “I still can’t quite believe it,” Cox said. “It’s unbelievable… It’s a great accomplishment”.
Hit Show crossed the finish line a length and three-quarters ahead of fellow American raider Mixto, while the highly-favored Forever Young finished third. The track, baked fast by the 100-degree weather, yielded a winning time of 2:03.50.
Forever Young Falters as Favorite Disappoints Backers
Image Source: Paulick Report
Forever Young, the 1-2 favorite, delivered a surprisingly flat performance at the $12 million Dubai World Cup and ended up finishing third behind American longshots Hit Show and Mixto.
Japanese Star Never Finds Rhythm
The champion horse looked uncomfortable right from the start and lacked his signature fluid movement that fans had seen in previous wins. Trackside observers noted, “Forever Young traveled with none of the fluidity he did when winning the Saudi Cup six weeks ago”. The Japanese star’s struggles became evident as he failed to find his position during the final stretch, a stark contrast to his commanding Saudi performance.
Zabeel Stables’ boss Bhupat Seemar’s words before the race proved eerily accurate. He had cautioned that “even the best horse can have an off day”. The favorite seemed out of sorts throughout the race and couldn’t match the leaders until late. His usual responsiveness was missing as other horses outmaneuvered him tactically.
Sakai Reflects on Challenging Race Conditions
Ryusei Sakai, the jockey, spoke candidly about their disappointment: “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”.
The challenges were clear in Sakai’s words: “He wasn’t traveling at all. It wasn’t an easy race and hard to keep winning”. The same jockey who guided Forever Young to Saudi Cup victory just weeks earlier couldn’t recreate that winning magic on Meydan’s track.
From Saudi Cup Glory to Dubai Disappointment
Six weeks after his thrilling head-to-head battle with Romantic Warrior in Riyadh, Forever Young’s usual brilliance seemed to fade. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi pointed to possible environmental factors: “We were the away team, and Forever Young got worked up because of it. That’s no excuse, though”.
Seemar showed grace after the loss: “This is horse racing and these things happen. Tactically they got the race on us, so it is how it is”. Forever Young’s heart shone through as he rallied late to claim third place, despite the disappointing overall performance.
Brad Cox Celebrates from Afar While Derby Preps Continue
Image Source: The Courier-Journal
Brad Cox watched from his Kentucky base as his colt claimed victory in Dubai. The Eclipse Award-winning trainer couldn’t make it to the event because he needed to stay with his Kentucky Derby prospects. “I still can’t quite believe it, it’s unbelievable,” Cox remarked after the race. “I would have loved to be there but just with so much going on with these 3-year-olds and trying to get to the Kentucky Derby, I couldn’t make it”.
Training Team Executes Perfect Strategy
Cox’s careful planning made all the difference even though he wasn’t there. “He was in good hands with the people I sent over with him,” Cox noted. His trusted assistants Dustin Dugas and E.J. Bowler went to Dubai and carried out the training program exactly as planned. Hit Show’s recent California performance gave them confidence that the horse was ready for Dubai.
The 2000-meter distance seemed perfect for Hit Show according to Cox. “The mile and a quarter is his trip,” he explained. “We always knew that ground was his thing, the further the better”. Cox knew his horse’s strengths well, having guided him through Triple Crown races during his three-year-old season.
Kentucky-Based Operation Reaches Global Heights
Cox’s impressive resume now includes this Dubai World Cup triumph. His solo training career started in 2005, and he has built a powerhouse racing operation since then. His achievements include back-to-back Eclipse Awards as Outstanding Trainer in 2020 and 2021. He set a single-season North American earnings record exceeding AED 116.77 million in 2021 and claimed 11 Breeders’ Cup victories through 2023.
His team’s organizational strength lets them manage operations worldwide. “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”. Their approach has turned Hit Show into what Cox called “a win machine” with victories at multiple tracks.
The Dubai victory gives Hit Show automatic entry to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. “Being a ‘Win and You’re In,’ it does take a little pressure off,” Cox said as he planned the horse’s future races. “We’ll circle the Breeders’ Cup and probably have two preps between now and then”.
Wathnan Racing Secures Biggest Prize in Their Short History
Image Source: The Peninsula Qatar
Wathnan Racing’s Hit Show brought home the Dubai World Cup, marking a defining moment in their short history. This Qatar-based operation, just three years old, climbed faster than anyone expected to grab racing’s biggest dirt prize.
Qatar Ownership Group’s Meteoric Rise
Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar’s Emir, launched Wathnan Racing in October 2022. The new entrant quick to make its mark on global thoroughbred racing. They emerged as a strong challenger to established giants like Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum‘s Godolphin. Wathnan’s global reach now spans Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, and the United States, with horses training across these regions.
Industry watchers call Wathnan “an incredible success story,” noting their immediate effect on the sport. Their first three years brought multiple big wins, including Group 1 victories at prestigious Ascot.
Strategic Acquisition Pays Historic Dividends
Hit Show stands as a perfect example of Wathnan’s smart approach to building their racing stable. The horse caught Wathnan Racing’s eye while running for his breeders, leading to a private purchase. Brad Cox took over as trainer, and the investment paid off right away. Hit Show won both the Lukas Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs and Fayette Stakes at Keeneland.
Racing advisor Richard Brown explained, “The thought was to try to buy a dirt horse that might be able to get to a level where he could hopefully be successful in the Middle East, in races such as the Dubai Cup or Saudi Cup”.
From West Virginia Stakes to World Cup Glory
Hit Show proved why Wathnan’s team picked him. His Grade 3 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes win in August 2023 kicked off a string of graded stakes victories. Before his Dubai triumph, his earnings reached AED 4,730,847.
The World Cup win added AED 25.56 million to Wathnan’s account, proving their investment worthwhile. This victory established Wathnan Racing as a major international player early in their journey.
Observers at Meydan reported, “For Wathnan Racing, it was a moment of pure celebration — a crowning achievement on the biggest stage of all”.
Hit Show’s incredible win at the 2025 Dubai World Cup proves how unpredictable horse racing can be. The victory showed how Florent Geroux’s masterful riding tactics lined up perfectly with Brad Cox’s team’s precise training and Wathnan Racing’s smart investment approach.
This stunning upset meant more than just winning the AED 44.06 million prize. Hit Show earned an automatic spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and pushed his lifetime earnings beyond AED 30.8 million. Brad Cox’s team showed they knew how to run an international operation from afar while getting ready for the Kentucky Derby.
The race ended up showing how a 41-1 outsider could beat the favorites through brilliant tactics and sheer determination. The outcome altered the map of the racing world and solidified Wathnan Racing’s quick rise from newcomer to Dubai World Cup champion in just three years. Hit Show’s victory stands as a defining moment that shows racing excellence can come from unexpected places and challenge the sport’s traditional powers.
