The Racing World loses another star to stud

[Mintano]

Shadwell Stable’s reigning Horse of the Year Invasor suffered a career-ending injury to his right hind ankle and has been retired from racing following his last major work in preparation for next Saturday’s Suburban Handicap (gr. I).

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Invasor would move to Shadwell’s Lexington, Ky., breeding facility, where he will stand in 2008.

“I feel honored and privileged to have trained Invasor for Sheikh Hamdan,” said McLaughlin. “He feels so bad for all of us connected with the horse. He’s a great owner and a great sportsman. It’s a very sad day for all of us. Invasor was a superb horse and a pleasure to be around. Everyone on my team did a great job with him, as did jockey Fernando Jara. It’s a shame the way it ended, but at least he will be able to go to stud.”

Rick Nichols, vice president and general manager of Shadwell Farm, reported that the work went well, and the injury was not readily apparent until the horse was back at the barn, cooling out after the workout.

X-rays revealed a fracture to the top of the sesamoid, a bone in the ankle and an area he had previously injured as a young horse in Uruguay. Although surgery does not seem to be indicated, Nichols said that the connections elected to retire their world champion from racing. Nichols continued, “He’s done everything we’ve ever asked of him. This is a huge disappointment for all of us as well as for the racing world.”

In 12 starts, Invasor posted 11 wins, including six consecutive grade 1 victories, earning over $7.8 million. A 5-year-old son of Candy Stripes, Invasor won the 2005 Triple Crown in Uruguay and was named Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male in that country. After being privately purchased by Shadwell in 2006, Invasor dominated the North American racing world with victories in the Whitney Handicap (gr. I), Pimlico Special (gr. I), and Suburban H andicap (gr. I). His championship season culminated with a thrilling victory in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I) at Churchill Downs in November. He was voted the Eclipse Awards as Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male.

His 2007 campaign started with a two-length win in the Donn Handicap (gr. I) under a hand ride. The champion’s major objective was the world’s richest race, the $6 million Dubai World Cup. Invasor wore down his rivals to win by nearly two lengths.

The pride of Shadwell breezed five furlongs in :59 2/5 in company with 2006 Gotham (gr. III) winner Like Now Saturday.  Barry Downs, Invasor’s regular exercise rider, was aboard for the work.

“He came back fine from the workout,” McLaughlin said. “But when we went to wash his feet, he took a couple of funny steps and we noticed some swelling in his right hind leg. We had him x-rayed shortly thereafter, and that is when the fracture was detected.”

Darn it, I LOVED this horse, this is a terrible blow to the racing world, everyone was looking forward to seeing him race till at least the end of the year if not into his 6yo season. 

[Andrea]

That’s unfortunate.  I liked Invasor ok, but I have moral objections to the Sheiks and their attitude towards racing so I can’t really fall in love with any horse they own.  I did appreciate the owner’s willingness to keep him running this year, though.  Showed much more class than the brother did with Bernadini.

Should pretty much throw the HOTY title up for grabs though… I imagine this might make Rags to Riches owners consider sending her up against the boys in the Classic, as whoever wins that is likely to get the honors (assuming one of the three of the TC winners does).

[BrilenFarms]

See, I don’t see it at all as having “lost” a horse to a breeding career. Now, Barbaro…we lost him.
I don’t usually pay attention to signs, but I do believe that this came at the right time.
Look at what he’s done…
4th in UAE Derby
1st Pimlico Special
1st Suburban Handicap
1st Whitney Handicap
1st Kentucky Derby
1st Donn Handicap
1st Dubai World Cup
1st GP Jockey Club
1st GP Nacional Uruguayan Derby
1st Lapsang
1st Cl Ensayo
1st GP Polla Potrls Uru 2000 Gns
Eclipse Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male
Dubai Horse of the Year

. undefeated in 11 of 12 starts. earning over 7 million.
He’s walked away without surgery. He’s able to start his career in the breeding industry. Most importantly, he WALKED away; we’re not mourning yet another loss of a phenomenal horse. Just watching him as he goes onto a new part of life; being a ladies’ man

[Shanthi]

Um…Invasor never won the Kentucky Derby. 

[Andrea]

And having a record of 11 for 12 isn’t exactly undefeated.   Granted, he was undefeated after his first start I think.

I think it’s reasonable to be sad to see a horse of his caliber retire from racing.  It’s unlikely any of his babies will outclass him and it’s so rare to see good horses actually keep running.  I mean, this was the first BC Classic I’d been looking forward to for awhile.  That would have been an amazing race to see.