'He represents everything we've built' - Fierceness to stand at Ashford Stud following final run at the Breeders' Cup

Coolmore America and Mike Repole have announced that Fierceness will take up stud duties next year at Ashford Stud following his final start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Fierceness opened his account on debut at Saratoga in August of his two-year-old campaign, winning by 11 and a quarter lengths. The son of City Of Light went on to capture top-level honours in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita later that term, while he landed a second Grade 1 in the Florida Derby last year, defeating his rivals by 13 and a half lengths. 

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Fierceness defeated Sierra Leone in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes that season and went on to take top honours in the Travers Stakes, beating a stellar field which included Thorpedo Anna, Sierra Leone and Dornoch. He rounded off that campaign with a second in the Breeders' Cup Classic. This year, the colt landed the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes, finished second in the Metropolitan Handicap and claimed another Grade 1 with a decisive score over Journalism in the Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar in August. 

Repole, his owner-breeder, said: "Fierceness isn't just a racehorse – he's family. He represents everything we've built and believe in at Repole Stable. From the day he was born, we knew he was special. He's a Grade 1 winner at two, three and four, a Breeders' Cup champion, an Eclipse Award winner and a horse who showed heart, grit, and freakish talent."

Coolmore's Dermot Ryan added: "Fierceness hails from a young and hugely exciting family of his owner-breeder, Mike Repole. His track record speaks for itself. A Breeders’ Cup Juvenile-winning champion two-year-old who further enhanced his profile with Grade 1 victories at three and four years, consistently posting massive Beyers [speed figures] in the process.

"He's an outstanding physical from a hugely successful sire line and out of a sister to Wood Memorial Stakes winner, Outwork. We got together with Mike Repole with an outstanding Saratoga MSW, Eclipse Award and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner before, and we all know how good Uncle Mo turned out to be. With his credentials, there’s no reason to believe that Fierceness won’t be every bit as good.” 

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