Classic-placed, multiple graded stakes winner Tacitus arrived in South Korea around midnight Sept. 12, having been sold to a private farm with a large broodmare band, according to the international agent that brokered the deal.
Bloodstock agent Yoonie Choi, with International Bloodstock Associates, said the buyer has been watching Tacitus' development as a sire for awhile. International Bloodstock Associates is the American partner of K.O.I.D., the South Korean importing company, and handles the exporting of 200-250 horses to Korea annually.
Tacitus is a 10-year-old son of multiple leading North American sire Tapit out of multiple grade 1 winner Close Hatches and raced as a homebred for Juddmonte Farms. He became a winner at 2 and quickly rose to prominence as one of the best in his sophomore class. He won the 2019 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) before finishing third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and second in the Belmont Stakes (G1). He later placed in the Travers Stakes (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1). At 4, he added a win in the Suburban Stakes (G2) along with a second in the Woodward Handicap (G1) and a third in Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Tacitus retired with a 4-4-3 record from 17 starts and earned $4,267,350.
Taylor Made Stallions launched Tacitus' stud career that has propelled him into the top 10 as a second-crop sire this year. He has sired 40 Northern Hemisphere winners from his first two crops, led by graded stakes winner and millionaire Silent Tactic. Racing for John Oxley, Silent Tactic won this year's Southwest Stakes (G3) and ran second in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and Rebel Stakes (G2).
Tacitus also shuttled for two seasons to Chile in 2022-23 and there he sired another 24 winners year to date, including Chilean group 1 winner Sulis, who won the Arturo Lyon Pena (G1), and stakes winner Mr Sabelon.
To date, Tacitus's progeny has collectively earned $3,360,147 and have been averaging $23,334 per starter.
Since Tacitus' days as a racehorse, Close Hatches has significantly raised her profile as a broodmare. She is also the dam of Juddmonte homebred and grade 1 winner Scylla, who won the 2025 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), and of 2024 Ohio Derby (G3) winner Batten Down, who also ran third in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2). Both Scylla and Batten Down are full siblings to Tacitus, who was the mare's first foal.
