Hit Show was a smashing success in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) on Saturday, staging a furious late rally to beat fellow American longshot Mixto in a surprising 1-2 finish for U.S.-based horses.
Japan’s Forever Young, the odds-on favorite following his dramatic win over Romantic Warrior in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) in February, also came through with a strong rally. Still, it wasn’t enough to catch the leaders, and he settled for third.
Sent off at 40-1, the gray son of Candy Ride won the Louisiana Stakes (G2) to kick off his 5-year-old season, then ran third a distant third in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) on March 1 for trainer Brad Cox.
Qatar-based Wathnan Racing, who owns Hit Show as well as Flood Zone (eighth in the UAE Derby), decided to send the horse to Dubai to prepare for the World Cup.
It certainly paid off in the World Cup. The victory was worth $6,960,000 as Hit Show ($84.60 for a $2 win bet in the international pool) improved to 18-9-1-1 and nearly $11 million in earnings.
The finish was a dandy. Mixto, trained by Doug O’Neill and ridden by Frankie Dettori, who earlier teamed up to win the Godolphin Mile (G3) with Raging Torrent, took control over Walk of Stars with 150 meters to go, or so it seemed.
That’s when Hit Show, with Florent Geroux up, came flying into the picture, with Forever Young also making up ground with every stride. Dettori urged on Mixtobut it was not enough as Hit Show would not be denied.
HIT SHOW is on 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍 in the $12million @emirates Dubai World Cup! #DWC25 pic.twitter.com/L4rANiyWw6
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) April 5, 2025
Il Miracolo was fourth, followed by Walk of Stars, Ushba Tesoro, Rattle N Roll, Wilson Tesoro, Katonah, Ramjet, and Imperial Emperor.
Winning time for the 2,000 meters (about 1 ¼ miles) was 2:03.50.
The storyline for this 29th edition of the Dubai World Cup was Forever Young, who came into the race as the world’s No. 1 rated horse. The 4-yer-old star was riding an eight-race winning streak outside the U.S., his only two losses coming in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). For example, in this race, he was third in both races.
Forever Young was bidding to become the first horse to win the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup and the second to win the UAE Derby and World Cup the following year.
Raging Torrent ($9.90) led from gate-to-wire in winning the $1 million Godolphin Mile by 3 ½ lengths, giving Frankie Dettori his eighth win the in the race and Doug O’Neill his third – and second straight.
O’Neill won last year’s Godolphin Mile with Two Rivers. France-based King Gold was second, and Japan’s Kazu Petrin was third.
A photo finish determined this as Japan’s Admiral Daytona ($22.20) eked out a nose win over Heart of Honor in a thrilling duel.
The win worth 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and clinched a spot in the starting gate in the Derby field limited to 20 starters.
Flood Zone, who has 50 points on North America road to the Kentucky Derby and likely will make the field, was seventh in nine.
Japan-based horses have won this race four years in a row.
Dark Saffron pulled off a huge upset ($132.60) in the 6-furlong dirt sprint, edging Nakatomi by a neck in his first stakes race against top-class horses.
Straight No Chaser, who won the Eclipse Award as the champion sprinter of 2024, finished eighth by nine lengths under John Velazquez as the betting favorite in American wagering pools. Tuz finished third.
Dubai-based Ahmad bin Harmash trains the winner. Wesley Ward trains Nakatomi.
This is another win for Japan, this time by Soul Rush in an upset of star turf runner Romantic Warrior in the $5 million Dubai Turf (G1). Maljoom was third in the 1 1/8-mile race. Soul Rush won by a nose after a duel down the stretch.
One more time for Japan – this time it was Danon Decile pulling off the victory over Calandagan and Durezza, with Rebel’s Romance fourth in trying to win the 1 ½-mile turf race for the second time.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
