 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
Fresh from an authoritative victory in the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Classic, Sierra Leone's ownership consortium, led by Peter Brant and Brook Smith, alongside the Coolmore powerhouse, are deliberating the colt's future campaign.
Previous winners of America's premier contest who went on to achieve further glory include Gun Runner, Sierra Leone's own sire, who captured the 2017 renewal before landing the Pegasus World Cup, worth a staggering US$16.3 million, in his final start.
The Debby Oxley-bred colt, a son of Gr.1 winner Heavenly Love, has seen his value soar well beyond the US$2.3 million paid at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale in 2022. His compelling mix of pedigree, performance and conformation has made him one of the most sought-after stallion prospects in recent years.
The talented three-year-old's future remains undecided, with Smith acknowledging the complex decision ahead. "I'm the guy that does the listening and the nodding because why would I open my mouth given the history of those guys?"
Despite Brant expressing his desire during a Nov. 2 post-race conference to campaign the colt at four, the lure of a lucrative stud career looms large. Smith elaborated. "The logical thing from a breeding perspective—not logical, but the easy decision—is OK, let's go to the (breeding) shed, but it's definitely worth having a conversation about because he's sound, knock on wood, and he looks like he's just now kind of maturing, coming into his own. So he could very easily kind of follow the path of his daddy."
Should connections opt to continue racing, a wealth of international opportunities await. The US$3 million Pegasus World Cup remains an attractive initial target, whilst the US$20 million Saudi Cup and US$12 million Dubai World Cup beckon in the spring—though pursuing these would mean postponing any stud duties until 2026.
Gun Runner's success story potentially offers a blueprint, having excelled as a 4YO with four Group One victories en route to Horse of the Year honours, before retiring to become North America's second-leading sire.
The ownership group's decision, balancing immediate stud value against potential racing glory, is expected in the coming weeks.