Though Peter Brant, one of many co-owners of Breeders’ Cup Traditional (G1) winner Sierra Leone , expressed his want throughout a Nov. 2 post-race information convention to see him run subsequent 12 months at age 4, the possession group can also be contemplating the choice of standing him at stud in 2025.
Co-owner Brook Smith, chatting with reporters on the Del Mar backstretch Nov. 3, the day after the Traditional, mentioned the companions within the 3-year-old colt, which incorporates him, Brant, and Coolmore Stud-affiliated homeowners, had a dialog about Sierra’s Leone’s future on Saturday after the race.
“I am the man that does the listening and the nodding as a result of why would I open my mouth given the historical past of these guys?” he mentioned in a nod to his companions, who’re extra skilled in racing and breeding and extra in tune with the worth of a possible stallion. “And I do not assume it has been determined but.
“I imply, the logical factor from a breeding perspective—not logical, however the straightforward resolution— is OK, let’s go to the (breeding) shed, however it is undoubtedly value having a dialog about as a result of he is sound, knock on wooden, and he appears to be like like he is simply now type of maturing, coming into his personal. So he might very simply type of comply with the trail of his daddy.”
His sire is none apart from Gun Runner , the second-leading sire in North American, who, after a promising 3-year-old marketing campaign in 2016, by which he received the Clark Handicap (G1) and different races, had an much more rewarding marketing campaign at age 4. That 12 months in 2017, he received 4 grade 1s, topped by the Breeders’ Cup Traditional en path to Horse of the 12 months honors.
He additionally made one begin as a 5-year-old, profitable the $16.3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) in January 2018, simply earlier than the beginning of the breeding season.
The Pegasus stays an choice for potential stallions, even at the moment, by way of its purse of $3 million—down sharply from the times of a slot-boosting format that led to large purses for its first couple of years.
Racing additional into the winter and spring supplies choices such because the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) and the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) within the Center East in the course of the winter and early spring.
To compete within the latter two races, nevertheless, would require forgoing the 2025 breeding season with a extremely priceless horse. Sierra Leone is deemed as the total package deal. Moreover being by Gun Runner, the Debby Oxley-bred colt is out of the grade 1-winning Malibu Moon mare Heavenly Love .
Breeders’ Cup Traditional winner Sierra Leone stands throughout a media session Nov. 3 at Del Mar
His appears to be like, pedigree, and racing potential are why his homeowners went to $2.3 million to purchase him from Fasig-Tipton’s The Saratoga Sale in 2022.
His homeowners at the moment had been betting on him creating right into a stallion— and along with his achievements, that may sooner or later turn into a actuality. His worth now far exceeds his preliminary eye-catching worth.
Coolmore’s American stallions stand at Ashford Stud in Central Kentucky.
Requested if the companions had set a timeline for the choice, Smith didn’t give a particular reply, saying, “I believe that everyone will soak this factor in.”
Neither coach Chad Brown nor any of the opposite homeowners moreover Smith had been at Del Mar when Smith spoke to the media throughout a chosen time for day-after pictures and press entry.
“All the things’s all good,” assistant coach Baldo Hernandez mentioned Sunday morning. “He’ll ship tomorrow to Kentucky and perhaps Florida after that. I do not know for positive; it is as much as the boss.”
Smith mentioned the Bottom Studying Middle earned $58,000 from his share in Sierra Leone’s earnings by way of the Purses for Function- program by which he participates. Smith donates 10% of his secure’s earnings to the BLC. He additionally mentioned he has a “ticket value $30,000” he plans to offer to the award-winning non-profit.
Fierceness’ Future
As introduced final month, Coolmore has secured the breeding rights to Breeders’ Cup Traditional runner-up Fierceness , having entered right into a take care of proprietor Mike Repole of Repole Secure after the colt received the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
Fierceness (proper) tries to carry off the winner Sierra Leone within the stretch of the Breeders’ Cup Traditional at Del Mar
Repole indicated in a put up on X that he was staying in with a major share in Fierceness’ breeding rights, the settlement that features a provision for Fiercness to doubtlessly run again as a 4-year-old. Coolmore will obtain 50% of Fierceness’s racing rights for a 4-year-old marketing campaign, Repole posted, mentioning that the Saudi Cup might show a lovely choice early subsequent 12 months.
“He got here out of the race very nicely,” Corridor of Fame coach Todd Pletcher instructed Breeders’ Cup publicity on Sunday. “Seems to be good this morning. He will go to Kentucky tomorrow and goes to get an entire bodily. At the moment, the plan can be for him to go on to Palm Seaside Downs from there and put together for a 4-year-old marketing campaign.”
