John Stewart is a person on a mission. On Aug. 16 that mission noticed the United States-based proprietor make his first main influence on the European gross sales circuit as he struck an internet bid of €1.4 million (US$1,542,730, €1=US$1.1020) to safe the highest lot on Day 1 of the Arqana August Yearling Sale in Deauville.
The yearling in query is Lot 105, the Wootton Bassett colt out of Dardiza provided by Haras d’Etreham. The well-credentialed teenager additionally landed within the crosshairs of Coolmore, whose M.V. Magnier stuffed the function of underbidder.
The colt is a full brother to Guildsman , winner of the 2020 Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs after he transferred to the U.S. after a juvenile marketing campaign with Archie Watson that included a third-place effort behind Arizona within the 2019 Coventry Stakes (G2). There may be energy in depth to the pedigree because the mare is a sibling to the dams of six black-type performers, most notably the champion and sire Almanzor .
Stewart was not in attendance in Deauville, however his consultant Gavin O’Connor outlined the attraction of the brand new recruit.
He mentioned: “He is a superb stamp of a horse for a January foal. Clearly he is a full brother to Guildsman and there is a critical quantity of high quality coming by his broodmare sire Avenue Cry. You’ve got Machiavellian over Halling within the pedigree so it is a fabulous basis. There’s Almanzor underneath the second dam, Darzan, Dabawa, numerous good, stable horses which have come up numerically to provide the pedigree that substance.
“Bodily he is an excellent horse. We’ve got two stunning (Wootton Bassett) colts out of Battle Entrance mares again house on the farm in Kentucky and we’re actually excessive on them; they’re stunning fashions. I noticed numerous them in him, and vice versa. He is an enormous walker, very elegant and fashionable. He met the stability that I prefer to see. He is stallion prospect materials.”
Stewart, who races underneath the banner of Resolute Racing, has begun making his mark on the monitor within the U.S., the place Pounce and Candy Rebecca have gained at stakes stage. His colours have additionally graced the turf in Britain as he races Evade and Palace Inexperienced in partnership with Qatar Racing.
O’Connor mentioned all choices remained open for the seven-figure Wootton Bassett colt.
“I’ve to listen to from John earlier than there is a last plan however we’ll get him within the most secure fingers as of proper now and we’ll make a conclusive plan after that,” he mentioned. “We’ve got all choices obtainable, whether or not John needs to maintain him on this area and have a Royal Ascot kind for subsequent yr or carry him again to the U.S. and attempt to sort out among the good turf races in Keeneland and Saratoga. He is that caliber of a horse and I am assured he may do it in each locations primarily based on his pedigree.”
Lot 105, the session-topping Wootton Bassett colt from the Arqana August Yearling Sale
Stewart has emerged as a significant investor within the world bloodstock market, along with his purchases together with the likes of twin Breeders’ Cup winner Goodnight Olive , a $6 million acquisition at Fasig-Tipton’s The November Sale in 2023, the place he additionally secured Pizza Bianca and Forte ‘s dam Queen Caroline at $3 million apiece.
Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock model has signed for 20 yearlings at an outlay of $10.685 million at this yr’s North American gross sales. He additionally stuffed the function of underbidder when the filly out of Winx offered for AU$10 million on the Inglis Easter Sale in Australia earlier this yr, whereas world expertise search has additionally seen him purchase 2023 South African Horse of the 12 months Princess Calla and Australian group 1 runner-up Tutta La Vita.
O’Connor indicated Stewart might be lively at different main European yearling gross sales over the approaching months.
He mentioned: “That is the premier sale for yearlings in France. John needs one of the best of one of the best and when you’re not in it, you’ll be able to’t win it. We have gone by all of the horses fairly clinically, we cannot purchase an enormous quantity however the distinctive horse, like this particular person, he ticks all of the bins. That is what John needs, that is his imaginative and prescient, he needs one of the best of one of the best for Resolute Racing and he needs to make a mark on the business globally. He is an unimaginable particular person and we’re all blessed and fortunate to be part of this imaginative and prescient and mission that John has.”
He added: “John’s extraordinarily busy and has quite a bit getting in his world however it’s an honor to be right here to signify him and have all the religion and belief he places in me to attempt to put all these good horses in entrance of him and his fiancée, Chelsey. They will sit down and undergo the pedigrees and what I’ve handed on with their very own mixture of selections and we come to a conclusive settlement. It is an excellent dynamic.”
In addition to his quickly increasing bloodstock portfolio, Stewart additionally bought what was beforehand Shadwell’s Shadayid Stud close to Halfway, Ky. Subsequently renamed Resolute Farm, the property is now house to Stewart’s burgeoning broodmare band and younger inventory.
“We closed on the farm solely in late December in 2023 and there is now 120 horses on the stud,” mentioned O’Connor. “We even have over 40 horses in coaching.
“John may be very precocious and really decisive in his determination making. After we get collectively as a workforce and all of us come collectively on a horse, it isn’t a case of, ‘I prefer it for a worth.’ He needs to take the horses we won’t go away the gross sales floor with out. That is his mission.”
Information and Figures
Day 1’s turnover and median stats had been broadly just like these registered 12 months in the past, though the typical worth and clearance price lagged behind the figures recorded at that record-breaking renewal.
The day’s mixture was €21,712,000 (US$23,925,538), which was down 5% year-on-year, whereas the median closed at €226,165 (US$249,223), down 2%. The common worth dropped by 26% to €137,500 (US$151,518), whereas the clearance price was 72%, having been 84% at corresponding level in 2023. From 133 provided tons, 96 discovered a purchaser.
The August Sale continues Aug. 17, with the postracing session scheduled to start at 5.30 p.m. native time.
