Florent Geroux: "I Still Can’t Believe What We Achieved in Dubai"
- Turf Diario
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
In a conversation with Objetivo Breeders’ Cup, the French jockey reflected on the triumph of the son of Candy Ride, a victory no one saw coming and one that cemented his place among the top riders in the world
By Diego H. Mitagstein
It’s been more than a week since Hit Show stunned the racing world with his victory in the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan, and Florent Geroux still finds himself in disbelief.
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around what we achieved,” the French-born jockey said during an in-depth, half-hour interview on Objetivo Breeders’ Cup. “We went in thinking we had a very slim chance. If everything went right, maybe we could get a decent placing… and we ended up winning. We brought the big trophy home. It was an incredible feeling.”
Geroux doesn’t shy away from acknowledging how unexpected the result was. “It was truly amazing. I still don’t understand how we pulled it off, the horse and I. Everything just worked out perfectly. I’ve watched the race so many times and it still surprises me how smooth it all looked. We weaved through horses inside, outside… and won. Unreal.”
Reflecting further, he added: “I think I only realized we might actually win with about 200 meters to go. The horse was moving better than ever, lengthening his stride, closing in on the leader.”
And there was one more twist: Geroux lost his whip with 300 meters to run.
“Yeah, that was a tough moment,” he admitted. “But sometimes using the whip when a horse is already giving everything can do more harm than good. Some get distracted. Maybe it was destiny. Maybe we were supposed to win that way—just with hands and heels, keeping him focused. If we’d lost, I might have felt terrible… but maybe it was written to happen like that.”
Hit Show’s ability to handle the surface proved crucial.
“That’s a great observation,” Geroux said. “He handled the kickback really well. Even back in the U.S., he ran on heavy, muddy tracks and never minded it. That was one of the keys—his ability to absorb the punishment from the dirt and still accelerate over the final quarter-mile.”
Asked whether he thought Hit Show had just delivered the race of his life or if he’s still on the improve—like many sons of Candy Ride tend to do—Geroux offered a balanced take.
“Look, to start with, he was a surprise. He went off at over 40-1 back home. That felt like an overreaction. Yes, Forever Young (Real Steel) was the rightful favorite, clearly the best on paper. But the rest of the field didn’t scare me much. Mixto (Good Magic) had only won two races—one of them the G1 Pacific Classic, which wasn’t a great renewal last year. There wasn’t a lot of depth.
“As for Hit Show, like you said, he’s getting better with age. He won the G3 Withers, was second in the G2 Wood Memorial, fifth in the Kentucky Derby, and fourth in the Belmont. Then, with me, he won the G2 Lukas Classic and the G2 Fayette. Those are serious races for older horses in Kentucky. So yes, maybe it was the best race of his life—but he’s always been a good horse.
“What’ll be interesting now is how he stacks up back in the U.S. against the top older horses, because that division is very strong this year. I was surprised no other American-based runners went to Dubai. Horses like White Abarrio (Race Day) or Locked (Gun Runner) would’ve been tough to beat. But the owners and trainers decided to stay home. We’ll see how it all plays out as the season progresses.”
Geroux is part of a brilliant European wave that has flourished on U.S. soil, alongside the likes of Julien Leparoux, Flavien Prat, and Umberto Rispoli. Asked why European riders have transitioned so well, Geroux pointed to their early foundations.
“It starts with how we’re brought up,” he said. “We go to jockey schools young. We ride on tough, technical tracks—left-handed, right-handed, uphill, downhill. In France, there are over 200 racetracks. You learn a lot. The French and Italians ride with a similar style. We adapt well, whether it's the U.S., Japan, or Hong Kong.
“In the U.S., the tracks can be a bit monotonous—flat, always left-handed. In Europe, even if you don’t have the best horse, being tactically smart can make the difference. Here, if your horse lacks speed, there’s often not much you can do.”
Despite being known as a turf rider, Geroux’s transition to dirt came out of necessity.
“It all started in California, but when I moved to Arlington in Chicago, they had Polytrack—and in the winter, the only option was dirt at Hawthorne,” he recalled. “There was no turf racing. I had to learn. I rode on dirt every day for six months. That was my schooling—100%. No choice. It’s like learning a new language: adapt or leave. And I adapted.”
Asked if there was a single moment that made him feel ready to compete with the best in America, Geroux cited an early breakthrough.
“There was one race, not a stakes race, no big-name riders that day—but it meant a lot to me,” he said. “I was riding at Hawthorne in 2011, and Todd Pletcher sent a horse named Joe Vann (Silver Deputy) to run in the Illinois Derby. Back then, it was a significant race with Kentucky Derby points. I got the call to ride, and while the horse maybe wasn’t top class in hindsight, it was a huge opportunity. I rode him just off the pace, second the whole way, and we won by open lengths. That day made me feel like if I got the right horses, I could do big things.”
With the Kentucky Derby approaching, Geroux is still waiting to see how things shake out.
“I don’t have a confirmed ride yet,” he said. “People are waiting to see who’s available. But I did get the call to ride a filly in the G1 Kentucky Oaks—Simply Joking (Practical Joke), who was second in the G2 Fantasy at Oaklawn.”
Brad Cox, who has three horses in Derby contention, hasn’t yet named Geroux on any of them.
“I think he’ll run two of them, but I didn’t ride any of those,” he said. “If someone changes their mind, maybe there’s a chance. I’m based near Churchill Downs—if a ride opens up, I can show up on a bicycle!”
Asked whether he feels he’s at the peak of his career, Geroux didn’t hesitate.
“The Dubai World Cup was incredibly special. It’s a race the whole world watches—America, Europe, Asia. Winning it puts you on the map. For me, it’s top three in my career. And it wasn’t just for the trainer or the owner—I felt like I was representing the U.S. We all won that day.”
A fixture among the elite of North American riders, Florent Geroux has enjoyed major victories across the globe. But even for a seasoned professional, moments like his triumph in Dubai leave lasting memories—and his joy remains as fresh as ever.
Comments