At Breednet, we often highlight the merits of various European based sires when they achieve great things and while US racing does not have the same cross over with our local racing and breeding industry it’s impossible not to be in awe of Gun Runner, who sired five stakes-winners from 10 runners last Saturday, two of them G1 winners.
With his oldest progeny just three year-olds, Gun Runner is posting some impressive stats with 10.2 % SW to runner and 13 stakes-winners coming from that first crop highlighted by six Group I winners.
Two of those Group I winners, Society and Taiba were among his five stakes-winners last Saturday.
Gun Runner was the Champion First Crop Sire for 2021 setting an all-time progeny earnings record for a first crop sire with $US4,278,640 and they have trained on in spectacular fashion, so he is now the leading 3YO sire with earnings topping $US9million.
His second crop has so far produced seven winners from 31 runners headed by Group III placed filly Grand Love with the remainder of the year sure to unearth a slew of new stakes-winners for the son of Candy Ride.
2017 US Horse of the Year, Gun Runner was a top class performer at 1800 and 2000m hitting his best form at age four when he won four G1 races in a memorable season highlighted by the Breeders Cup Classic and he returned briefly at five to win the rich Pegasus World Cup Invitational.
Gun Runner lacks for nothing on the pedigree front and is the best of 105 SW’s by Candy Ride from Group II winning Giant’s Causeway mare Quiet Giant, a half-sister to another US Horse of the Year and Breeders Cup Classic winner in Saint Liam.
He stood for a fee of $US125,000 at Three Chimneys Farm in 2022, a sharp increase on his fee the previous year of $US50,000 which followed on from his first three seasons at $US70,000.
Gun Runner is showing an affinity with daughters of champion sire Tapit and has had nine winners from 14 runners bred this way including three stakes-winners headed by Group I winner Society.
