Fierceness to Stand at Ashford Stud Upon Retirement

[Wandering Eyes]

Champion juvenile and 'TDN Rising Star' MGISW Fierceness (City of Light) will join the ranks at Ashford Stud upon his retirement from racing, the farm announced via release Sunday.

The champion juvenile from 2023 is a leading GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender and will likely be one of the favorites at post-time. Of the others, Coolmore will have two other rooting interests as well with 'TDN Rising Star' GISW Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) and 'TDN Rising Star' MG1SW-Eng City of Troy (Justify) in the race. That group accounts for three of the first four in the wagering.

Fierceness was a runaway winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita by 6 1/4 lengths last year, and turned the GI Florida Derby into an exhibition early this spring, winning by 13 1/2 lengths en route to his start in the GI Kentucky Derby. Finishing 15th in America's premier Classic, he returned to the races in late July in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes with redemption in mind, and claimed it by a length over Sierra Leone. He was last seen defeating 'TDN Rising Star' MGISW Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) by a head in the GI Travers Stakes.

Out of Nonna Bella (Stay Thirsty), who has also produced the track-record setting full-brother GSW Mentee, Fierceness hails from a female line that has produced GISW Outwork (Uncle Mo) and MGSW Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile). Second dam Nonna Mia (Empire Maker) was a runner-up in the GI Frizette Stakes, and is a half-sister to the latter stallion.

“Fierceness hails from a young and hugely exciting family of his owner/breeder Mike Repole,” commented Ashford manager Dermot Ryan. “He is an outstanding physical and has proven himself to be a champion on the dirt at both 2 and 3 years.”

“We're tremendously excited to welcome Fierceness to Ashford, be it this year or next. We will discuss his future with Mike, Todd [Pletcher] and the team following what looks to be the race of the year in the Breeders' Cup Classic.”

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