HIT Show produced a stunning final flourish to deny Frankie Dettori and fellow outsider Mixto victory in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan on Saturday.

All eyes were on odds-on favourite Forever Young, but his challenge never materialised until it was too late as Brad Cox’s five-year-old Hit Show flew from midfield to snatch success by half a length.

As a result, Dettori remains locked with American Jerry Bailey as the most successful jockey in the race on four Dubai World Cup triumphs, while Florent Geroux secured his maiden win.

Walk Of Stars took control of proceedings early on and was clear alongside Mixto at the two-furlong marker to create a clear advantage over the rest of the field.

Forever Young, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, could not get up to speed as Mixto took the lead inside the final 200 metres and looked certain to complete a double on the day for Dettori and trainer Doug O’Neill.

However, Geroux galvanised Hit Show to power from sixth inside the final furlong to claim the top prize, with runner-up Mixto just holding off the fast-finishing Forever Young in third.

The race is worth $12 million in total, with $7 million for the winner and $2.4 million for the runner-up.

By Candy Ride, Hit Show was winning his first Grade/Group 1 race here, having been bought by Wathnan Racing following a Grade 2 success at Churchill Downs last September.

’Great trip’

“It’s amazing, I had such a great trip the whole way,” said French jockey Geroux, who was second on Gun Runner behind Arrogate in 2017.

“I had to pass a lot of horses, but I could see my target and he was not travelling as well as my horse. I had a few anxious moments with Forever Young on the turn, but he went there with an impressive charge. I know my horse well and, for some reason, he runs strongly for me all the time.

Dettori, who recently filed for bankruptcy, said: “There’s good prize money for second! He ran superb.

“He was a genuine outsider, but 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.”

Dettori winner

Dettori took “great satisfaction” from kicking off his night in style after Raging Torrent eased to victory in the Godolphin Mile.

The meeting’s most successful jockey notched his record-extending eighth success in this race on board American trainer Doug O’Neill’s colt after a dominant display from the talented four-year-old.

There was $580,000 for the winner in this race on dirt.

Raging Torrent, who went off as favourite, despite a 100-day break, initially sat behind Bhupat Seemar’s Mufasa but once the pair completed the first turn, O’Neill’s charge showed a tremendous turn of foot to burst clear.

He stretched his lead in the closing stages to complete a three-and-a-half-length success, with the strong-finishing pair King Gold and Kazu Petrin coming home in second and third respectively.

Dettori, who partnered Raging Torrent for the first time when taking the Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita at Christmas, said: “I landed a Grade 1 on him, he’s super-tough and he’s been sprinting but he’s been racing behind the bridle.

“As soon as I got off the horse last time, the plan was to come here. With his temperament, I hoped he would get the mile.

“He’s a beautiful, kind horse, he jumped a little bit sideways but got to the front nicely and was soon in his own rhythm.

“Even if the revs were coming down at the end, the one I had to beat was next to me.

“It was a fairytale from beginning to end. I worked for Godolphin for 18 years and it’s my eighth Godolphin Mile.

“Eight Godolphin Miles, that’s a hell of a record! Equal World Cup winner (with four victories), so maybe I can say I grew up here – great satisfaction.”