The Best Horse in the world: Is it Invasor?

When Invasor crossed the line at the head of affairs in the Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) recently, with Discreet Cat trailing many lengths in his wake, there were those who thought that, knowing his comprehensive defeat of Bernadini in the Breeders Cup Classic Gr.1 back in November, Invasor might have staked his claim to being the best horse in the World.

Weichong Marwing rode Asiatic Boy to victory in the UAE Derby Gr2. (Andrew Watkins)However, there were many in the audience during the Dubai World Cup who felt that, whilst Invasor was quite a phenomenal animal, they may well have seen an even better racehorse that evening in the form of Sheikh Mohammad Bin Khalifah Al Maktoum’s Asiatic Boy. Mike de Kock’s charge had galloped away with the laurels in the UAE Derby (Gr2) the same evening, prompting claims from Weichong Mawing that he’d never sat on a better horse, and that was saying something. Of course, Asiatic Boys true merit will only be known when he progresses through his next campaign in the United Kingdom under Mike de Kock’s tutelage, where he is expected to take his place in several of the top Group One races as the season progresses. At this stage, he is bound to miss Royal Ascot, as he has only just touched down in England, and speaking to Mike, it seems as if most of his horses will be only be racing towards the end of July.

That includes the likely return to the races of Mullins Bay, who is scheduled at this stage to recommence his career in the United Kingdom. Depending on how he comes out of his preparation, he is likely to take his place in the Irish Champion Stakes Gr1 on 9^th September. Of course, everything depends on how he stands up, as he’s had his problems, and if he doesn’t for any reason, he’ll be back at Summerhill for the forthcoming breeding season, much to the delight though of our colleagues in the breeding industry. We’ve seldom known so many enquiries in advance of a horse’s arrival than we have for Mullins Bay and we are torn between the need to have him here this season and Mike de Kock’s view that he’s lengths the superior of Oracle West. Mike is firmly of the opinion he deserves to be given the chance to prove his class in the best company in the world.