August 3 – INVASOR

This is a special horse for so many reasons and he may be the only horse that I've painted that was born in the Southern Hemisphere, thus the birthday in the second half of the year. He was ridden by an 18-19-year-old Fernando Jara who retained the mount no matter how famous the horse became. Invasor was a personal discovery by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed AL Mouktoum for his Shadwell Farms. The story I was told by the Shadwell Farm manager Rick Nichols is that the "Boss" was traveling in South America viewing many horses and out of all the ones he saw, this horse really caught his attention. So, when he raced successfully in South America, it was with great pride that he was brought to the United States to see if he could reproduce those same results up here. He started his Northern campaign too late for the Classics, but he hit the track running as soon as he landed and did so, right up the racing ladder until he won the Breeders' Cup Classic and captured the Horse of the Year honors. But his career had one more major destination and that was to go to the Sheikh's home track, Meydan in Dubai for the World Cup, where he solidified his claim as the best horse in the world.

I painted this painting live at Gulfstream Park. Invasor had won the Donn Handicap there and he was going to be my subject for a Donn painting, but in talking with Kairan McLaughlin his trainer, the decision was made that the Dubai World Cup win was the way to go. When I searched through a mountain of potential source photos, I noticed that his horse always ran with both ears perked up, he just looked like the picture of class on the track. While I painted Invasor at Gulfstream, Rick Nichols came up and bought the painting for "the Boss".

A few months later, I was in Kentucky and Rick asked me to come out to the farm. I was able to see Invasor, and I must admit he was the little train that could. It was hard to believe the horse I was standing next to be this relentless freight train on the track that ran with the heart of a champion. But Rick had called me to the farm for a reason. After viewing Invasor, he took me to the workshop on the farm. His crew was building a 'shipping container' to send the painting to Dubai on one of their airplanes. He wanted to make sure I approved. Well, the "container" was a polished wooded box (maybe mahogany) cut to the exact size of the painting with a deep blue (Shadwell Blue) crush velvet padded lining inside. It had brass hinges and a brass lock latch. "You're kidding right? This box needs more padding!" (We laughed.) It's safe to say that box flew first class and was probably even served champagne on the flight, but what else would you expect for a horse the Sheikh felt an extra strong bond with, as the one he personally picked out and went on to be the Breeders' Cup Champion, Dubai World Cup Champion, and the Horse of the Year. Maybe the extra special part for Sheikh Hamdan was that he beat his brother's horse, Bernardini in Breeders' Cup. That win sealed his Horse of the Year title. Did I fail to mention he also ran into the Hall of Fame?

Born in the Southern Hemisphere, Invasor may be the only horse I've painted who was born in the 'second half' of the year.

While he was one of many wonderful horses to race for Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Farm, he was also one of the most special horses to the Sheikh because he found him in South America on his own when he was supposed to be looking at other horses. You win the Breeders' Cup and the Dubai World Cup, and your work is done on the track. (Credit must be given to Kiaran McLaughlin for the sensational job of training Invasor.) After standing stud for a decade in Kentucky at Shadwell, he relocated back to South America where he still casts a big shadow.

For me, the most surprising thing was when Ed Bowen and I were getting a quote for the book, A Brush With Greatness; I asked farm manager Rick Nichols to say a few words of his own about Invasor. A couple of days later a nice, detailed letter arrived from "The Boss", Sheikh Hamdan, that had to be cut up to fit the space on the page! He did say that over his 40 years with horses, that Invasor was one of four of Shadwell's great ones and proceeded to give me a nice write-up on each of the four.

The world lost Sheikh Hamdan a few months ago, creating several voids, one of which is in the horse world. Recently, it's been announced that his daughter will take over the global horse operations, a role that she's been groomed for all her life. Wishing them all the best to continue their success.

Yes, I have a few funnier stories about painting Invasor and getting the painting to Dubai, but I'll just be quiet for once. Enjoy the painting, The Boss did.