War Correspondent Sold to Turkish Owner/Breeder

Grade 1-placed, multiple graded stakes winner and freshman sire War Correspondent has been sold to Arif Kurtel and will stand in Turkey beginning with the 2022 breeding season, Calumet Farm confirmed Aug. 11. The 11-year-old son of War Front is a full brother to Declaration of War and out of the same family that produced Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Union Rags. Kurtel has been active importing stallions from the United States, having previously acquired Bluegrass Cat, Catapult, Avery Island, Tizway, and Air Vice Marshal. "Mr. Kurtel has a very promising 2-year-old named Final Dance who won impressively first time out in Istanbul. He is by Declaration of War and Mr. Kurtel believes the War Front line will work out well with Turkish breeding and racing," said Murat Sancal with Sancal Racing, who will keep War Correspondent at his operation at Elmendorf Farm before shipping the stallion to Turkey during the first week in November. "We loved War Correspondent's pedigree more than anything, which has many talented stallions, including Declaration of War and Union Rags. We will just need to support him with the right stock and waiting for his success," Sancal said. Bred and initially raced by Joseph Allen, War Correspondent won at first asking in France at 3. He was sent to the U.S. at 4 when he became runner-up in the Autumn Stakes (G2) at Woodbine. At 5, he won the Appleton Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park and finished third in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1T) by about a length to Mshawish, who was a nose in front of Slumber (GB). War Correspondent would win the Miami Mile Stakes (G3T) in 2017 and that year finished fourth in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap behind Almanaar (GB), Beach Patrol, and All Included and got moved up to third on the disqualification of Beach Patrol. War Correspondent wrapped up his career racing for owners Calumet Farm, Sagamore Farm, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. He retired with a 5-2-5 record from 16 starts and earned $351,989. He entered stud at Calumet in 2018 at $7,500 and stood for $5,000 this year. Declaration of War, a multiple group 1 winner and third in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), has been an international sire. He entered stud at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, shuttled to Australia, stood at Ashford Stud in Kentucky, and now stands at JBBA Stallion Station in Japan. Declaration of War has sired 35 black-type winners so far, which include 19 graded/group winners and Australian champion stayer Vow And Declare (AUS), who won the 2019 Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1); and, Canadian champion 2-year-old male Mr. Hustle.