Invasor headed to Uruguay for three breeding seasons

Hall of Famer Invasor will return to his South American roots to stand at Uruguay’s Haras Cuatro Piedras for three years, beginning with the 2015 Southern Hemisphere season.

The 13-year-old son of Candy Stripes has been based at Shadwell Stud near Lexington, Ky., which will partner with Haras Cuatro Piedras on his ongoing career. Shadwell Stud vice president and general manager Rick Nichols said Invasor will not shuttle back to the U.S. during the three-year period, though he will return to Shadwell at the end of his stud career if the two parties agree on a longer stay.

“Uruguay has been wanting him for a long time, and when he goes back, I think he’ll still be a national hero and be welcomed very strongly and supported very well by the breeders,” Nichols said.

Invasor is already well known in South America, as the Argentinean-bred won the 2005 Uruguayan Triple Crown to earn Horse of the Year honors in that nation. He was subsequently purchased by Shadwell and went on to win six consecutive Grade/Group 1 races for that operation, including the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2007 Dubai World Cup.

Retired with 11 wins from 12 starts for earnings of more than $7.8 million, Invasor was named Horse of the Year and champion older male in 2006 and was inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in 2013.

From his first four crops of racing age, Invasor is the sire of Grade 3 winner Ausus; stakes winners Expression, Invading Humor, and Saint Arthur; and four additional stakes-placed runners. His progeny have earned more than $3.6 million.

Invasor is scheduled to arrive in Uruguay in July, prior to the start of the Southern Hemisphere breeding season in August. He is advertised to stand the upcoming Northern Hemisphere season at Shadwell for a fee of $4,000.

— additional reporting by Joe Nevills