Much more than the phrases that adopted, the smile that by no means subsided throughout a 30-minute go to to a Tokyo Racecourse viewing stand to look at his horse, Goliath , undergo some mild coaching the morning of Nov. 21 advised the story for proprietor John Stewart: He is very near the place he needs to be.
That figurative place Stewart needs to succeed in is the winner’s circle of the world’s nice races. It is coveted floor for certain however previously yr, Stewart’s Resolute Racing has made a large funding towards that finish. And within the case of the Japan Cup (G1) Nov. 24 at Tokyo Racecourse, a victory would carry some additional that means for Stewart, who started his skilled profession at Toyota.
“It is exhausting to consider I’ve solely been in horse racing for a yr and have already participated in a number of the nice races all around the globe, from the Golden Slipper in Australia to the Kentucky Derby and Royal Ascot,” Stewart stated. “Japan Cup is certainly a race that’s fascinating to me. I’ve a background with Japan. I labored for Toyota for 18 years. I understand how a lot the Japanese individuals love the very best of all the pieces, and that is one thing that I really feel very strongly about.
“I feel the very best horses have to be touring all around the globe and racing in opposition to one another. I feel that is what the game needs and what the game wants. And so I am actually excited to be right here with Goliath, and I feel he will have a dominant efficiency this weekend, and I am excited to share that with all of the racing followers right here in Japan.”
John Stewart and Chelsey Stone at Resolute Farm
Stewart credit Toyota with setting him on a profitable profession path. He began as a flooring employee at its Georgetown, Ky., manufacturing plant and labored his approach as much as a administration place. Whereas he has since gone on to launch MiddleGround Capital, a personal fairness agency that invests in industrial companies, he was formed by co-workers from Japan.
He has maintained an amazing relationship along with his Japanese sensei from his Toyota days. That instructor, Hideshi Yokoi, spent 40 years in govt roles with Toyota within the United States and Japan. Yokoi’s son, Yuji, is a vp at MiddleGround Capital.
“He taught me all the pieces about enterprise and operations, and his son works for me right this moment. I am doing the identical factor along with his son that he did for me,” Stewart stated. “We have remained actually shut. And I’ve a great deal of pals right here in Japan. I am attempting to satisfy up with them whereas I am right here nevertheless it’s a fairly busy agenda.
“I might not be the place I’m professionally if it wasn’t for Toyota. Toyota is the corporate that skilled me. I began there once I was 19 years outdated. I did not have a school diploma. And I received my undergraduate diploma whereas I used to be working there. I received promoted by the group, ended up operating their European manufacturing.
“You have to respect an organization that makes that sort of funding all around the world after which offers a possibility. So I’ve nothing however respect for Japan and the Japanese individuals.”
Whereas Stewart is a Lexington resident who introduced his arrival as a serious trade participant with a shopping for spree within the fall of 2023 at Fasig-Tipton’s The November Sale and the Keeneland November Breeding Inventory Sale, his ambitions in racing go nicely past the borders of Kentucky and the U.S..
“I have been a fan of horse racing for over 30 years, and I feel most horse racing followers wish to see the very best—the very best horses in the very best races,” Stewart stated. “I like having the ability to play a component in that. This is only one cease on the worldwide journey that we intend. I feel Goliath is the kind of horse that everybody deserves to see, and in order that’s why we wish to attempt to make him accessible in these contests all around the world. Japan’s the primary cease and we’re very excited.”
Goliath trains for the Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse
In the summertime Stewart bought a majority curiosity in Goliath following the German-bred gelding’s 2 1/4-length victory within the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) July 27 at Ascot. Baron Philip Von Ullmann, the breeder and former proprietor of the 4-year-old son of Adlerflug , stayed in as a minority proprietor.
That outing impressed Stewart, an evaluation that proved sharp as members of the vanquished area that day included eventual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Bluestocking in second. The 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) winner, Auguste Rodin , completed fifth within the 1 1/2-mile Royal Ascot check and can also be entered within the Japan Cup.
Stored within the succesful fingers of coach Francis Henri Graffard after the sale, Goliath adopted with a victory within the Prix du Conseil de Paris (G2) Oct. 20 at ParisLongchamp. The two,200-meter (about 1 3/8-mile) race served as a prep for Sunday’s turf check on the 2,400-meter (1 1/2-mile) distance.
The Breeders’ Cup Turf was thought of for Goliath however Stewart stated there was concern that the course at Del Mar featured turns which can be too tight for his or her huge horse. So Japan Cup grew to become the goal with plans to race once more in two weeks within the Hong Kong Vase (G1).
Whereas that plan is in place, on Thursday Graffard, jockey Christophe Soumillon, and Stewart every famous that all the focus is on Sunday. A victory can be candy for Stewart.
“I imply, it is superior. I spent loads of time in Japan, however I by no means received to go racing right here,” Stewart stated. “I feel it is an amazing surroundings. I feel it is an amazing occasion to be concerned in.”
