Whilst there has always been thoroughbred trade between South America and the US, it is in more recent times that has seen a steady influx of South American-bred racehorses exported globally and performing to a level that is certainly turning heads to the breeding movement in the continent.
Some of top South American exports include:
Invasor (ARG) (Candy Stripes x Quendom {ARG})
Foaled in Argentina at Haras Clausan (now Haras Santa Ines), Invasor was bought as a 2YO by Pablo Hernandez and his brothers for US$20k. They took him back to Uruguay, where he broke his maiden over 5.5 furlongs by 6.75l. He went on to win the Uruguay Triple Crown, recording impressive margins along the way.
Invasor was then sold to Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum for roughly US$1.4m, and subsequently ran for Shadwell Stables in the US, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. Under McLaughlin’s care, Invasor went on to win the G1 Pimlico Special, G1 Suburban H. and the G1 Whitney H. in succession.
He then won the Breeder’s Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in 2006 and the 2007 Dubai World Cup, retiring due to injury with career earnings of US$7.8m, beaten in only 1 of 12 starts.
Named the 2007 American Horse of the Year, in 2013 Invasor was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs. After his retirement he stood at Shadwell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and in 2015 moved to Haras Piedras in Uruguay.
Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) (Candy Stripes x Dissemble {GB})
Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) was bred by Haras Bage Do Sul in Brazil. As a 2YO in Brazil, he placed first and second twice from three starts.
As a 4YO, he was transferred to America to race for trainer Bobby Frankel. He finished fourth on his debut but went on to win five consecutive races, including setting the track record for the 1 1/16-mile on turf in the G3 Inglewood H. and winning the G1 Citation H.
Leroidesanimaux was awarded the 2005 Eclipse Award for American Champion Male Turf Horse. He then retired to stud in Kentucky at Stonewall Farm before being moved to stand at Lanwades Stud in Newmarket, England.
Among his most notable progeny are Animal Kingdom, winner of the G1 Dubai World Cup, and Zaaki (GB), who has won multiple Australian Group 1 races.
Candy Ride (ARG) (Ride The Rails x Candy Girl)
Candy Ride (ARG) is a Thoroughbred stallion that was bred in Argentina by Haras Abolengo. He is by Ride The Rails and was unbeaten in six starts on both turf and dirt, and named Argentina’s Champion Miler in 2002.
Candy Ride then went on to race in America, where he won the G2 American H. and set the track record in the G1 Pacific Classic S., beating odds-on favourite Medaglia d’Oro. He retired to stud in America, where he became one of the more successful South American stallions to stand in the US. At stud, he was a top-10 sire and left many top-class racehorses.
His best offspring is Gun Runner, who won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, G1 Whitney, and G1 Woodward S., as well as the 2018 Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. Gun Runner is now a highly successful young sire in the US. Shared Belief, another of Candy Ride’s successful offspring, was the American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse in 2013 and won five G1 stakes between the ages of two and four.
Candy Ride’s other G1-winning offspring include Sidneys Candy, Misremembered, Capt. Candyman Can, and Twirling Candy.
Paseana (ARG) (Ahmad {ARG} x Pasiflin {ARG})
Paseana (ARG) was bred in Argentina and won Group 1 races in her home country before being sold to race in America as a 4YO. In 1991, she won seven consecutive races, five of which were Group 1s. She was awarded the Eclipse Award for American Champion Older Female Horse in 1992 and again in 1993.
Her notable victories in America include the Group 1 Santa Margarita Invitational H., Group 1 Spinster S., Group 1 Milady H., Group 1 Apple Blossom H., and the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff. In total, Paseana won 10 Group 1 races during her career.
Sandpit (BRZ) (Baynoun {IRE} x Sand Dancer {FR})
Sandpit (BRZ) was bred in Parana, Brazil by Sergio Coutinho de Menezes at Haras Sao Jose de Serra. He had 12 starts in Brazil, winning five times from 1992-93, including the G1 Grande Premio Kinneo de Paula Machado in 1992. He won three more G1s in 1993 after which he was voted the 3YO Brazilian Champion. In 1994, he was sent to race in America, where he was trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella.
After finishing second on his American debut on turf, he won his next start by 5l, followed by the G1 Oak Tree Invitational S. He then went to Japan, finishing fifth in the G1 Japan Cup. Back in the US, he won the G1 San Luis Rey H., G1 Caesars International H., and the Caesars Palace Turf Championship (winning both Caesars in the East-to-West series earned him a $312k bonus).
As an 8YO, he ran third in the G1 Dubai World Cup before retiring to stand at stud at Vinery Farm in Kentucky and shuttling to Australia. In 2003, he stood at Spendthrift Farm.
Southern Halo (USA) (Halo x Northern Sea)
Southern Halo was an American-bred stallion who retired to stud in Argentina. Despite not recording any major wins as a racehorse, he went on to become one of the most successful sires in Argentinean history.
Southern Halo was bought for US$600k at the Keeneland Sales and sent to Ireland. However, after two disappointing starts, he was sent back to America, where he enjoyed more success.
His most notable achievements remain his record as a sire, becoming Champion Sire on ten occasions in Argentina. He sired a total of 170 stakes winners, including 56 G1 winners and 16 Champions.
Among his most successful progeny is More Than Ready, who won five Group 1 races in Australia, as well as Group 1 races in the US and Dubai and was a hugely influential sire internationally.
Southern Halo also sired several successful horses in Argentina, including Miss Linda, who won three races in the US, including the G1 Overbrook Spinster S.; Fiesta Lady, who won three in a row in Argentina, including the G1 Seleccion Argentine Oaks; and Team, who was crowned Argentinian Horse of the Year and Argentinian Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in 1998. Team won several G1 races in Argentina, including the Gran Premio Santiago Luro and Gran Premio Montevideo, setting new track records along the way.
Miss Terrible (ARG) (Numerous x Teidi {ARG})
Miss Terrible was bred and raced in Argentina, where she won eight of her nine starts, seven of which were at Group 1 level. After her success in her home country, she was purchased to race in America.
Once in America, Miss Terrible continued to impress with notable victories including the G3 Las Flores H. and the G3 Distaff Turf Mile.
Forli (ARG) (Aristophanes (GB) x Trevisa {ARG})
Forli (ARG) was bred in Argentina and is by Aristophanes (GB), a British sire who was sent to stand at stud in Argentina. He won the Argentinian Triple Crown and remained unbeaten in his seven starts in Argentina before being sent to America to race, where he won two of three starts.
He was then retired to stud at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. His notable progeny include: Special, the dam of Nureyev and grandam of Sadler’s Wells; Thatch, winner of the G1 Sussex S., G2 St. James’s Palace S. and G2 July Cup; and Forego, a three-time American Horse of the Year.
Einstein (Spend A Buck x Gay Charm {BRZ})
Imported unraced from Brazil to the US in 2004, Einstein was a top-class racehorse. His victories include the G1 Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup, G1 Gulfstream Park Turf Stakes, G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (twice) and G1 Santa Anita H.
Life For Sale (ARG) (Not For Sale {ARG} x Doubt Fire {BRZ})
Bred in Argentina, Life For Sale was a Group 1 winner there before she was sold to Japan. There she produced Group 1-winning Danon Fantasy (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}), who the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and multiple Group 2 races.
Malpensa (ARG) (Orpen x Marsella {ARG})
Malpensa was bred in Argentina and exported to Japan. She produced Satono Diamond (Deep Impact), winner of the G1 Arima Kinen, G1 Kikuka Sha (Japanese St. Leger), G2 Kobe Shimnum Hai (Japanese St Leger Trial), G2 Hanshin Daishoten, G2 Kyoto Daishoten and G3 Kisaragi Sho.