INVADER: The Story of the Best Thoroughbred in South America!

Twelve races eleven victories Never lost a first-place finish Always stayed in the lead Won at five different racetracks across the United States Captured Uruguay's Triple Crown The Dubai World Cup The Breeders' Cup Top horse of the year in 2006 Nearly eight million dollars in prize money Argentine blood Uruguayan heart A warrior who fought through a severe injury Came back stronger and conquered the world Wrote the greatest chapters of South American TARF history Ambassador phenomenon pride Extraordinary His story has become legend His name legendary Uruguay like most countries in South America is a nation deeply passionate about horses Where they are as significant as the human population With a long-standing tradition and devotion to the alpine way of life The horse characterizes the most representative episodes of its history And to this day it remains deeply embedded in its society Although it is true that among the countries with the largest horse populations in the world it ranks number 21 with over 425 000 heads of livestock on its territory it also ranks second place In terms of the ratio of inhabitants to horses With 8 people per horse Only surpassed by Mongolia It's no wonder therefore that people feel such affection for these beautiful and majestic creatures Horse breeding is one of the country's most important occupations And when they produce a champion it is a source of pride And there was no greater pride than Invasor The racebred thoroughbred that elevated South America and Uruguay at the very top of the global racing world The story of Invasor is intertwined with that of his owners three Uruguayan partners who were in Argentina For the purchase of a promised foal Everything was ready and planned for a visit to a specific horse farm But as in all great stories fate stepped in It intervened A mechanical failure in their small plane forced them to trade wings for four wheels and adjust the farm they were about to visit potentially for purchase Ending at the Santa Inés Ranch There stood a chestnut-colored thoroughbred colt with a small white star on his forehead The thoroughbred said nothing And physically he didn't resemble a future champion But his attitude won them over He gazed into the distance And that was why he was chosen Purchased for 18 000 dollars it was christened Invasor and was taken to Uruguay to prepare for his campaign on the tracks no one yet imagining what was about to come Invasor begins his training in Uruguay at the Maroñas racetrack Trained by Aníbal San Martín he was nervous and had a fierce temperament yet he outshone all the other colts and already breaking records during training Mounted by Gustavo Duarte from the beginning even before making his debut The rider already knew he had the best colt of the moment And he was right On February 27 2005 Invasor made his debut Two years later at the Maroñas racetrack he secured a decisive victory by more than six lengths After that victory he made it clear he was aiming for greatness Yet despite not pushing him or forcing the issue he let him be Shortly after the race Invasor suffered a serious injury —a sesamoid fracture—and it was decided to operate on him The surgery was a success but he would be kept off the tracks for more than six months until he fully recovered After the period of rest and preparation Invasor was showing excellent form Fearing a relapse They entered the colt to race in August the classic trial—a 1 500-meter race serving as a preliminary for the prestigious Polla de Potrillos One of the most important races in Uruguay alongside the Jockey Club and the Gran Premio Nacional They formed Uruguay's triple crown This would be a very important race to determine Invasor's true condition Although he had been well prepared due to his coach Aníbal San Martín it was also true that the best conditions weren't arriving already three years and six months since his debut He was sent to the bottom of the betting list facing Potrillos with a classic clash still in full swing But Invasor proved he was a winner delivering a magnificent performance and claiming victory by two and a half lengths Making it clear that if they hadn 't defeated him that day no one else would easily overcome him Following this phenomenal victory And with the sensations surrounding Invasor restored came the first leg of Uruguay's Triple Crown: the prestigious Gran Premio de Potrillos Raced at the Maroñas racetrack it is a Grade One event run over a 1 600-meter sand track On September 10 2005 everyone was nervous It was the most important race he had faced to date Moreover Duarte his usual jockey had injured his leg and wouldn't be able to ride him The responsibility fell to the Chinese rider Olivera A young and inexperienced jockey but highly promising The gates opened and the horses surged forward Invader had a poor start dropping to the back of the pack The day was rainy and the track muddy but that didn’ t stop the red Zaino from steadily gaining positions climbing all the way to the front positions With astonishing ease heading into the final stretch in first place extending their lead and winning the race by a clear margin of more than five lengths in a superb time in a brilliant performance us securing the first link in the triple crown The next race would be on October 9 at the Jockey Club Grand Prix also celebrated at the prestigious Hipódromo de Maroñas over 2 000 meters of sand With the return of his regular jockey Duarte The race seemed like a formality as both the press and fans unanimously viewed it as a foregone conclusion that the anime would win just as the bets had favored him But first the race had to be run and it was on the track where everything was decided with powerful horses like Potriflax at their side the second leg of the Triple Crown began The horses surged forward at a blazing pace Binbanfix led from the start closely followed by Invasor wearing number 3 and that positioning held throughout the entire race until reaching the final stretch where Invasor steadily closed the gap and overtook Binbanfix with a tremendous burst of speed He became untouchable to his rivals crossing the finish line and winning by three and a half lengths With Invasor's impressive victory only the National Grand Prize remained the Derby the race that crowns the champion of the year Invasor aimed for the triple crown where winning each of the races that comprise it is an extremely difficult feat attainable only by the greatest You need attitude substance to be in good physical condition and a skilled team that knows how to handle the horse Invasor had all of that and more That was why he was racing against time to achieve the great feat on November 13 the Maroñas racetrack was packed No one was missing and no one wanted to miss the possible crowning of the thoroughbred as one of the greatest By this point Invasor had already captured the hearts of fans and everyone wanted to see him triumph— everything was set for the race Nervous horses in the stalls 2 500 meters of track ahead the most demanding competition The participants set off eagerly to prove their worth Invader No 6 stayed in the lead positions throughout the race would be decided in the final stretch and so it was—with 500 meters to go Invasor took the lead but Potri Flash the horse that had been his rival in previous competitions wouldn't make it easy for him and quickly matched his pace both horses battling for victory neck and neck until with only about 200 meters left to the finish line Invasor suddenly accelerated showing he had no equal and was in a league of his own the crowd rose to their feet chanting his name as he crossed the finish line proclaiming himself champion of the National Grand Prix and securing Uruguay's triple crown leaving behind fantastic impressions on the people not only had he been a triple champion but he had achieved it with remarkable ease gracefully captivating the admiration of all earning him the title of Uruguay's Best Horse of 2005 With those victories added to his reputation it was no surprise that buyers began appearing for the horse although the desire to sell was small since a horse like him comes along only once in a lifetime nonetheless an offer had been made for a Saudi sheikh it was hard to refuse—1.5 million dollars becoming the highest price ever paid for a South American horse With Invasor established in Dubai a new chapter began for him His owners and his new trainer They didn't have a clear understanding of the thoroughbred's quality They knew little or nothing about the Uruguayan tarz and some even thought it was a low-grade thoroughbred like the one in the United States But those who knew him knew he was exceptional With little time to prepare and even less to adjust Under Dubai's harsh conditions Invasor made his international debut at the now -closed Nad Al Sheba racetrack On March 25 2006 competing in the UAE Derby a grueling race over 1 900 meters of sand preparatory race for the Kentucky Derby with a prize purse of $2.5 million The race did not go well for Invasor because they lacked a clear strategy to follow due to insufficient knowledge of the horse's capabilities Invasor ended up in fourth place just behind the second but far from the winner who was Diskret K This would be his first defeat in which his trainer He would take all the blame After the experience in Dubai it was time to travel to the United States His first competition would be on May 19 in the Pilmico Special Handicap a Grade 1 race over 1 900 meters at would pit him against four top-tier horses His jockey Venezuelan-born Ramón Domínguez Despite being a top-level rider he didn't get good control not due to any lack of skill but because of the same issues Dubai ignorance about the horse and lack of strategy led to the horse falling to last place on the final turn seeming defeated yet as he approached the final straight he regained his form surged ahead with breathtaking speed and overtook meters in a spectacular fashion surpassing his rivals winning by a head and a quarter over the favorite Wendering Boy Invasor triumphed The legend was back or perhaps he'd never truly left and his path toward becoming the greatest in the world was finally beginning to unfold In the new Invader team they were already convinced of the horse they had and with that confidence they would head to Belmont Park o contest another Group 1 race the Suburban Handicap this time ridden by young Colombian jockey Fernando Jara Invasor prevailed With ease against six rivals in another outstanding race And thus his experience continued in the United States gaining ground in the following TARF American shaping up for the major race the Braver Cups on August 5 2006 would contest the Whitney's Handicap at Saratoga a race that would be unforgettable In the lead -up Invasor and the local horse Flower Alley were in the spotlight Record times And as the race began they engaged in an incredible duel It seemed there were no other horses on the track despite coming from fourth and fifth positions behind all eyes were on them But once again In the straightaway Invasor did what he had already accustomed everyone to—pulling away from Flower Alley surging past all his rivals excep o the first Sun King with whom he would have a tight duel and who ultimately won by a nose Invasor began to make his mark among the best of the moment in the United States and they brought him to race in the prestigious Jockey Club Golden Cup at Belmont Park But it was scratched due to a slight fever during training That race would have matched him against Bernardini the standout star of the moment a thoroughbred Amazing that he had only lost the race of his debut and had since gone on to win five consecutive races including the Prickness Stage He was the favorite o win the Gold Cup which he did and also entered as the favorite in the Braiders' Cup Classics where Invasor would indeed be present Arrived on November 8 2006 the date of the season 's most important race the Braiders' Cup Classics with a purse of five million dollars bringing together the finest thoroughbreds of the era all champions all exceptional Among the favorites the European contender George Washington the brilliant Lava Man the future Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo and the clear favorite of all Bernardini Consideredpractically unbeatable he was favored to win The best sand horses filled his stalls and nerves were frayed a flower of skin Ahead 2 000 meters of track in the Cathedral of Horse Racing Churchill Downs The gates opened and the thoroughbreds surged forth hungry to devour miles Brother Derek led the charge while Invasor stayed close behind quietly waiting for his moment with the group The favorite Bernardini after the first minute of the race began to racing ahead and climbing positions Such was the local fanaticism for him that the race commentary by the announcer used him as a benchmark all the time and when he surged ahead on the final bend taking the lead victory seemed assured—yet at the same time a few meters back the young Fernando Jara urges Invasor forward with strength and courage aiming to catch the favorite by cutting in from the outside e center of the track Both fighters are locked in a tight battle just over 100 meters from the finish line Invasor pulls ahead The 175 000 people gathered at Churchill Downs fall silent The unbeatable Bernard s being overtaken by a horse whose courage surpasses all limits The thoroughbred born in Argentina and raised in Uruguay making history winning the 2006 Braver Cups Its first owners who had come to watch the Classic They proudly waved the flag of Uruguay The flag that day would accompany him onto the podium Invader already one of the best of the world With that great victory he had raised the South American altar to its highest peak And in Uruguay he was a social phenomenon—everyone was talking about him on television on the radio in newspapers on the streets among friends a horse trained in Uruguay triple champion at the Maroñas win the Braver Cups It was magnificent Not even the most optimistic could have imagined it For Uruguay and Argentina alike at the level of creators achieved one of the greatest successes in their rich history But the story of Invasor doesn't end here More triumphs and successes lay ahead o arrive And after that victory he began preparing to compete in another major classic on the global stage The Dubai World Cup To prepare he continued running in the United States It was time to head to Gulf Stream Park in Florida to run the Down Handicap a race now known as like the Pegasus World Cup Invasor was the favorite against seven top-tier rivals Yet the race was far from a formality Just before entering the final stretch he stumbled lost ground and unable to regain his pace appeared unlikely to recover She would have won it But once again Invader proved he was one of the best While everyone thought the race was lost due to bad luck He rose dazzling his rivals and winning once more After this astonishing victory he arrived e moment to return to Dubai where the great challenge awaited —the Dubai World Cup regarded as one of the finest races in the world on sand There the moment arrived would once again meet Disgraced Cat his executioner a year prior in his sole defeat But this time neither he nor anyone else Among the finest horses in the world at that time none could stop him With the young Fernando Jara at the reins Invasor won the race decisively by two lengths and an incredible time that kept dropping the two minutes With the Dubai World Cup Invasor cemented his status as the world's best horse on dirt and went on to become In legend occupying a place among the greatest in history This would be his final race More had been dreamed of but the sesamoids They suffered another setback and this new injury brought their 2007 season on the court to an end Retired as The stallion in Lexington Kentucky has his offspring scattered across the world primarily throughout the United States and Mexico The invader cos Eighteen thousand dollars sold for one point five million earned eight million in prizes won eleven from 12 races never lost a Grade 1 triple champion in maroñas winner of the Braiders Cup and the Dubai World Cup the 2006 Horse of the Year in the United States Led the annual IFA ranking and in 2013 he entered the Hall of Fame But what Invasor accomplished goes far beyond those incredible statistics His story inspired the entire South American racing scene put him on everyone's lips and conquered the world with his victories His story became legend and it is a pride for Argentina Uruguay Latin America and the world of turf in general Protagonist of great victories Filled racecourses entered the hearts of everyone marked a before and after in the world of horse racing Living legend Thank you Invasor