Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Farm branches out to Peru

Invasor, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's Argentine-bred horse who won the 2007 Dubai World Cup. Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Farm has added Peru to its list of South American countries in which the racing operShow more

Shadwell Farm, the breeding arm of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's racing operation, is to sponsor races in Peru, the fifth South American country in which the Dubai owner now has an interest.

Shadwell Farm already sponsors contests in Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil and Chile, as well as the US, UK, Italy, Germany and Australia.

At US$100,000 (Dh367,300) per race for what is typically a five-race card in each South American country, Shadwell's investment is significant.

There are also plans to expand the reach of Shadwell's stallions on the continent.

Invasor, Sheikh Hamdan's Argentine-bred 2007 Dubai World Cup winner, is credited with being the horse that ignited the owner's interest in the South American racing scene.

The story goes that the day before the running of the world's richest race in 2006, Frankie Dettori, the Godolphin jockey, went to have a peek at Invasor, the main competition for Discreet Cat, the Italian's ride.

Kiaran McLoughlin, Sheikh Hamdan's US trainer, is supposed to have watched Dettori stroking the horse's nose and said: "Frankie, take a good look at his head now because tomorrow all you're going to see is his [backside]."

McLaughlin's words proved prophetic and Invasor, under the Uruguayan jockey Fernando Jara, won his ninth Group 1 race by one-and-three-quarter lengths from Premium Tap.

Sheikh Hamdan's horse, purchased out of Uruguay where the colt completed a highly-successful early career, posted a lightning-fast time. He was only slower than Godolphin's great Dubai Millennium, who Dettori piloted to the Dubai World Cup's most famous win in 2000.

Invasor's success, which saw him defeated only once in 12 starts when running into traffic in the 2005 UAE Derby, now sees a number of successful juveniles purchased from South America to race in the US and Dubai every year.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa, the main patron behind Mike de Kock's string, has had great success with his Argentine imports, including Asiatic Boy, the 2007 UAE Triple Crown winner, and Honor Devil, the 2008 UAE Derby winner.

Meanwhile Stefan Friborg, the businessman who owns the Estrella Energia Stud in Brazil, claimed the 2010 Dubai World Cup with his homebred Gloria de Campeao.

Mirza al Sayegh, the director of Sheikh Hamdan's Office, said the benefits to racing, the UAE and to Shadwell itself made investment in South America more than worthwhile.

"Sheikh Hamdan considers South America a very important area for racing," al Sayegh said. "The mere fact that we bought Invasor from there shows how important he thinks it is. He is also keen to help development of racing in the region.

"He decided to buy the horse in a split second after watching one DVD of Invasor racing in Uruguay. He knew the horse had potential and called me at 9pm at night to tell me that he wanted me to immediately release $1.5m to Uruguay to buy the horse."

And Sheikh Hamdan's forays into South America have already reaped rewards according to al Sayegh.

"He has two aims," said al Sayegh. "He wants to promote Shadwell and he wants to promote the UAE.

"We have seen increased business between South America and the UAE since we sent delegations there, especially Peru, where we did not have any trade links in the past."

And does South America harbour another Invasor just waiting to be discovered by the racing world?

"Yes, of course," said al Sayegh. "There is always another Invasor. The trick is in identifying the horse that has the potential to be great at an early stage."