SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Hyperbole is the linchpin of sports. Viewing just one edition of “Sports Center” proves that much. In thoroughbred racing, however, the term great is an adjective held in such high esteem that it’s often referred to as the "G-word.” It’s used sparingly, usually when remarkable performance meets historical achievement under extraordinary circumstances. But I’ve seen enough. Invasor is a great racehorse.

We’re going on the record now, two months before the reigning Horse of the Year defeats the exceedingly brilliant Discreet Cat in the Dubai World Cup on March 31 at Nad Al Sheba Race Course. After that, Invasor’s greatness bandwagon will fill up in :22.44 seconds flat.

Indeed, we’re jumping the gun. The body of work is small. But there is enough: 10 wins in 11 starts. Horse of the Year on two continents, North and South America. A triple crown winner in his native Uruguay. Never been defeated in Grade or Group 1 in eight races. He’s a margin horse, winning five South American starts by a combined 24 lengths, but has never lost a close battle.

What makes Invasor great is his class, courage and athleticism. He overcame a stumbling start and multiple stretch challenges before looking a late runner in the eye to win the Whitney, his third of five consecutive American Grade 1 triumphs. He was not deterred by a bobbled beginning, pronounced bias, an eventual 3-year-old champion, and the only handicap horse to ever sweep California’s storied Grade 1 trilogy in a single season, winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic and a dual championship. And despite the relatively narrow margin, he won it with ears pricking.

In the Pimlico Special, his American debut after having crossed the Atlantic twice, he altered course, lost nearly three lengths when his rider dropped a reign, and re-rallied to beat one of the fastest older horses in training. In the Suburban, he bobbled at the start, was soundly bumped, then dominated six rivals to win by almost five, more if Fernando Jara wanted. In fact, he’s overcame trouble to win all five of his U.S. starts.

In last weekend’s Donn Handicap, it was more of the same. With Jara committed to the inside and trapped inside with momentum on the far turn, he clipped the heels of a tiring Barcola before entering the straight, checked, angled inside, and accelerated to blow the race open in midstretch. He was geared down in the final hundred yards, again winning with his ears pricked, equine body language for “gotcha,’ and there’s more where that came from.”

Invasor has won on 29 days rest and beat the deepest field assembled in 2006 off a 90-day layoff. He’s won under four different riders from distances of 5-½ furlongs to 10, on muddy and fast tracks, and in record time. There are no holes in his game and he always fires. Never has he won a race by default.

But there is that one loss that blemishes a perfect record. It came at Nad Al Sheba at the hooves of undefeated Discreet Cat, who last November ducked the Breeders’ Cup in favor of the Cigar Mile before returning to Dubai to prepare for the World Cup. The race will match the two best dirt horses in the world and brother against brother, Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum vs. Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai‘s ruling family.

The connections of Invasor, Shaikh Hamdan and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, have been quick to note that circumstances contributed to Invasor’s lone defeat in which he finished fourth, beaten seven lengths: Discreet Cat had a home track edge while Invasor had to cross an ocean. Invasor had not raced in 131 days, and was making his first start for new connections. He was forced to spot the younger horse nine pounds at a shorter distance that favored his rival.

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But not this time. He must re-cross the ocean but Invasor has had his prep. As older horses, weight is not a factor. In Jara, Invasor has a regular partner who rides him skillfully and with extreme confidence. Discreet Cat is unproven at 10 furlongs; Invasor is 4-for-4 at distances of a mile and a quarter and beyond.

Discreet Cat’s advantage is that he’s been pointed to the race since last fall, will be fresh, has physical upside potential as a newly turned four-year-old, greater untapped speed, and will be ridden by the brilliant Eclipse runnerup, Garrett Gomez. These are variables that could make Discreet Cat rule a slight favorite at simulcasts everywhere. There is no wagering in Dubai.

The World Cup figures to be the race of this or any other century. It matches the world’s best horses against one another, the great vs. the near great. Premium Tap, a talented late developer who was third behind Invasor in the Classic, will head the remaining contenders. But clearly this will be a match race within a race. In racing much can happen in two months. If for some reason the Dispute in the Desert doesn’t happen, it will be racing and sports history’s loss.

As racetrackers say, “they all get beat.” The great Secretariat “got beat.” So did Spectacular Bid, Seattle Slew. Thus far, Discreet Cat hasn’t been. But aside from proving in the Cigar that he’s a world class miler, questions remain. He needs the World Cup the way Payton Manning needed the Super Bowl. But not Invasor. He’s a champion on two continents that consistently overcomes adversity and does so with speed, class, style and often wins within himself. For Invasor, there’s nothing left to prove.

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