Classic Empire Sold to KRA, Standing in Korea for 2024

American champion and top-five third-crop sire Classic Empire  has been sold to the Korea Racing Authority, according to the Korea stud book and confirmed by Ashford Stud, where the stallion started his stud career.

The 9-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile was imported to South Korea Dec. 18.

Classic Empire has been among the top 10 of his sire class by progeny earnings since his first foals began running in 2021. He was represented by two stakes winners his freshman year and would see his first graded stakes winners as a second-crop sire.

By cumulative progeny results, Classic Empire is the fourth-leading sire of his class with more than $13.59 million in progeny earnings. He has sired 12 black-type winners to date with this year's Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Angel of Empire  becoming his first grade 1 winner. Angel of Empire went on to finish third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and banked $1,446,375 for the year, making him Classic Empire's chief earner. The sire's other top runners include grade 1-placed, grade 2 winner Interstatedaydream  and grade 3 winners Classy Edition  and Morello .

The KRA began pursuing higher-quality stallions in earnest in 2004 to build up the Korean breeding program. One of their early acquisitions in 2006 was two-time American classic-placed, grade 1 winner Menifee, who died in 2019 and still ranks this year among Korea's top 10 leading sires. Menifee's last foals are 3 this year.

Hansen , U.S. champion 2-year-old male in 2011, is the leading sire in Korea for 2023 by earnings. He is also the leading sire with 91 winners. Hansen was imported in 2013 and is owned by KRA. 

Classic Empire also became a champion at 2 after winning the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3), Breeders' Futurity (G1), and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) in 2016. At 3, he won the Arkansas Derby for owner John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse and went on to finish fourth in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Preakness Stakes (G1). A hoof abscess forced the colt's withdrawal from the Belmont Stakes (G1) and a lengthy recovery eventually led to his retirement in October 2017. He retired with a 5-1-1 record from nine starts and earned $2,520,220.

Steven and Brandi Nicholson bred Classic Empire in Kentucky out of the Cat Thief daughter Sambuca Classica. He is a half brother to stakes winners Anytime Magic  (Fusaichi Pegasus) and Uptown Twirl  (Twirling Candy  ). Sambuca Classica is out of multiple grade 1-placed stakes winner In Her Glory, who produced two stakes-placed performers among seven winners and is the granddam of stakes winners Bay Park Boy (Johannesburg ) and Bronx Beauty (Liaison ).

Korean breeders added another grade 1 winner to their stallion ranks earlier in the year when Kim Ho Jong bought West Will Power . The 6-year-old son of Bernardini raced as a homebred for Gary and Mary West. He won this year's Stephen Foster (G1) and New Orleans Classic (G2) stakes. He also was runner-up in the 2022 Clark Stakes (G1). The horse retired with a 7-7-1 record from 17 starts and earned $1,745,390.