By Emma Berry
American owner-breeder John Stewart of Resolute Racing has completed a deal to buy a majority share in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}).
The four-year-old gelding, who is trained in Chantilly by Francis-Henri Graffard, was bred by Gestut Schlenderhan and races in the colours of Schlenderhan's Baron Philip von Ullmann. The owner's father, Georg, raced the 2005 GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Shirocco (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) among a host of top-class horses, and this year's Breeders' Cup will be among the options under consideration for Goliath.
Based in Kentucky, Stewart is the owner of Resolute Farm and has become a major player on the bloodstock scene in recent years. His high-profile purchases include Puca (Big Brown), the dam of Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) and his dual Grade I-winning full-brother Dornoch. Now 12, Puca was bought at Keeneland last November for $2.9 million.
He has made no secret of his desire to expand his racing interests into Europe and had his first runners at Royal Ascot this June. Over the weekend, Stewart bought three yearlings for €2.17 million at the Arqana August Sale.
Goliath, who also won the G3 Prix d'Hedouville earlier this season, holds entries for the G1 Qipco Champion Stakes and G2 Qatar Prix Foy but he also has potential targets farther afield.
Stewart told TDN, “So many people over here [in America] have changed to where it's a breed-to-sell programme. What are the chances somebody else is going to buy a gelding who's the number two horse that year? He's already got his 'Win And You're In' for the Breeders' Cup and for the Japan Cup and could point to the Sheema Classic. I negotiated a 75% controlling interest in the horse. That's some of the flexibility I have with my focus being the racetrack. I want to have the best-bred horses on the track.”
Graffard, who sent Goliath's stable-mate Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) to York on Wednesday to run a gallant second to City Of Troy (Justify) in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes, has issued an update on the King George winner. He said, “I'm very happy with Goliath. He's in top form. We gave him time in August and the plan is to run him in the second half of September, either in the Prix Foy at Longchamp or the Preis von Europa in Cologne. After that he has the option of the Champion Stakes at Ascot, the Breeders' Cup or the Japan Cup.”
He added, “We are delighted to welcome a new owner to our yard in Mr Stewart and we look forward to some international competition.”
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