Sierra Leone, Fierceness and Citizen Bull Begin New Chapters at Ashford Stud

Ashford Stud Shakes Up the Stallion Market With the Arrival of Three of the Most Promising New Sires

Sierra Leone, a Physically Striking Specimen / ADAM COGLIANESE / NYRA

MIDWAY, Kentucky (Special to Thoroughbred Daily News) — The 2025 Breeders’ Cup not only brought the curtain down on a memorable season, but also marked the transition of three standout performers from the racetrack to the breeding shed. Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), Fierceness (City of Light) and Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) have all joined the prestigious stallion roster at Ashford Stud, Coolmore America’s powerhouse base in Kentucky, forming one of the most exciting new sire trios of the incoming year.

Sierra Leone: A Physically Striking Warrior

At the top of the list stands Sierra Leone, the 2024 Eclipse Champion 3-Year-Old Male and one of the most consistent and courageous runners of his generation. A multiple Grade I winner of the Blue Grass Stakes, Whitney and Breeders’ Cup Classic, he never finished off the board in 14 starts and earned over $8.1 million. His introductory fee has been set at $75,000, the highest among Ashford’s new sires for 2026.

“Sierra Leone is a true warrior—a champion who never missed the board,” said Charlie O’Connor, Coolmore America’s Director of Sales. “His runner-up effort to Forever Young in this year’s Classic was arguably the best race of his life, posting a 111 Beyer and a matching 2¾ Ragozin figure. He’s a horse of tremendous class, courage and genetic strength.”

A son of Gun Runner and thus a grandson of Candy Ride (Arg), Sierra Leone represents the continuing rise of one of the most influential sire lines in modern American breeding.

Fierceness: Speed, Class and Tenacity

Joining him at Ashford is Fierceness, whose fee has been set at $50,000. A Grade I winner at two, three, and four, the chestnut captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Florida Derby, and Travers, while also placing in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in both 2024 and 2025. His record includes a track-record performance in the Alysheba S. (G2) at Churchill Downs and another Grade I victory in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

“Fierceness showed up in every big race,” O’Connor said. “He earned triple-digit Beyers ten times and proved himself across multiple seasons. He brings sustained speed and a fierce competitive spirit—hallmarks of his sire line descending from Quality Road and City of Light.”

With lifetime earnings exceeding $5.7 million, Fierceness blends brilliance and stamina, offering breeders a strong middle-distance profile grounded in classic depth.

Citizen Bull: Pure Speed From the Start

Rounding out the trio is Citizen Bull, the 2024 Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Male, who will stand for $35,000. By Into Mischief, the precocious bay captured the American Pharoah S. (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), later adding the Robert B. Lewis (G3) and Shared Belief S. (L). He ended his career with a heroic second—beaten only a head by Nysos (Nyquist)—in a thrilling Dirt Mile (G1) after setting fractions of 21.74 and 44.96 seconds.

“Citizen Bull ended his campaign on a brave note, running blistering early splits and fighting to the wire,” O’Connor noted. “He’s a son of Into Mischief, a juvenile champion himself, and from a family rich in precocity—think Favorite Trick and Tiz the Law. He brings raw speed and commercial appeal to our roster.”

With Sierra Leone, Fierceness and Citizen Bull, Ashford Stud once again demonstrates Coolmore’s unmatched ability to identify and secure elite stallion prospects. Three Eclipse Award winners, three different sire lines, and a shared promise of excellence—each poised to shape the next generation of American racing.