American Tycoon Confirms Training Line-up for Australian Venture

American tycoon John Stewart has confirmed the talented line-up of trainers who will oversee the careers of his expensively-assembled team of promising young horses.

Chris Waller, Bjorn Baker and Ciaron Maher have been tasked with turning Stewart’s dreams of making a mark in Australian horse racing into reality.

Stewart’s Resolute Racing operation splashed the cash at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale earlier this year on several promising future prospects.

Waller was the first to join the ranks after being confirmed as the trainer of a $3 million I Am Invincible filly out of Group 1 winner Booker.

A $900,000 Wootton Bassett colt out of 2017 Golden Slipper placegetter Tulip will also be heading to the Waller stable to start his journey in Australian racing.

Stewart has been extremely vocal about his ambitious plans for Resolute Racing, and Waller will be expected to turn the yearlings into future superstars.

The tycoon is desperate to make a significant impact in Australian horse racing and his expensive purchases will likely have betting sites running for cover when they hit the racetrack.

Stewart garnered plenty of headlines earlier this year when he just missed out on buying the coveted first foal out of Australian superstar mare Winx.

He also attempted to purchase Imperatriz at the Magic Millions Mares Sale, but was beaten to the punch when Yulong owner Yuesheng Zhang paid $6.6m to acquire her.

However, after shelling out big money to buy six horses at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Stewart has subsequently assembled a team of top trainers to handle their careers.

Baker was added to the roster after making a pitch to the billionaire on social media. His efforts paid dividends, with Stewart sending two promising prospects to his stable.

The Sydney-based handler will train a Lope De Vega filly out of Hint Of Pink who cost $425,000 and a Dundeel colt out of Game Of Thorns who was bought for $240,000.

Maher became the third trainer to join the Resolute Racing line-up following positive discussions with Stewart at the Kentucky Derby in May.

He will train a $650,000 daughter of I Am Invincible out of Faith In Hand and a $225,000 Street Boss filly out of an unraced More Than Ready mare, This Time Bridie.

After completing his trio of talented trainers, Stewart urged racing fans to stand by for some ‘big news coming to Australia in the next few weeks’.

His comments will undoubtedly have the Australian racing community wondering what is next on the agenda for a man who seems intent on shaking up the sport.

Stewart has spent millions accumulating a team of high-profile racing and breeding prospects over the past year to fuel his ambition of developing a world-leading breeding program.

He acquired 13 yearlings at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale, with his total outlay coming to a mind-boggling $8,425,000.

He followed up with several more big-money purchases at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale and Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sales.

Stweart has focused on acquiring horses with pedigrees boasting proven bloodlines, which he believes will help him conquer racing across the world.

“Part of my breeding program is to get these deeper, thicker families,” Stewart said. “And you see a little bit more concentration in that in some of the overseas markets, specifically in Europe. And you're starting to see them as well in Australia.

“We have been very strategic to go out and try to acquire some quality families that will help us create some foundation mares on our facility to help get our programme moving quicker.

“I'm trying to breed for a different quality of horse. We're not just after winners, we are after Graded stakes winners.”

Given the significant outlay Stewart made in Australia earlier this year, punters would be well-advised to keep an eye on his runners when they make their debut on the track.