John Stewart's Resolute Racing made its first foray into the Japanese market, and, like with every sale that Stewart works, he made an immediate impact.
Fresh from winning the Diana Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course July 12 with Excellent Truth, a daughter of Cotai Glory he bought for €1,600,000 ($1.87 million) at Arqana last December, Stewart added a daughter of Kitasan Black (Hip 69) to his ever-expanding string for ¥170,000,000 July 14 at the yearling session of the Japan Racing Horse Association Sale.
Stewart has about 250 horses, and this filly will be making the journey from her Northern Farm home to America, her new owner confirmed by phone.
"This filly will be headed back to the States," Stewart said. "Hip 69 is all about the dam's pedigree for us. I see this sale as an opportunity to bring some of the bloodlines back to the U.S. that have been exported.
"We have a few Galileo mares and Photo Call had a nice career here in the States. Kitasan Black is really doing well and we like this as a pedigree for future breeding."
The filly is out of U.S. turf grade 1 winner Photo Call, a daughter of the breed-shaping Galileo and a granddaughter of Trevor Stewart's wonderful King's Stand Stakes (G1) heroine Cassandra Go, dam of Halfway To Heaven, victorious in the One Thousand Guineas (G1) and Nassau Stakes (G1).
By Pivotal, Halfway To Heaven produced two group 1 winners by Galileo; Magical and Rhododendron, who is the dam of Auguste Rodin. Coolmore's son by Deep Impact triumphed in the Derby and is about to embark on his first Southern Hemisphere covering season at New Zealand's Windsor Park Stud.
Cassandra Go is also the dam of group 3 winner Tickled Pink, who in turn is the dam of Saxon Warrior's first crop Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) winner Victoria Road.
Stewart was earlier beaten by Life Horse Company for the Contrail colt out of Cotillion Stakes (G1) winner Street Band at ¥125,000,000.
"We were the underbidder for hip 36; we liked him as well," Stewart said.
He then signaled his intent to remain active in the market with Tuesday's foal sale next on his list.
"We will be active tomorrow (Tuesday): there are some foals that we have our eyes on."
Stewart only began buying at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, but in less than three years, he has made his presence felt throughout the industry in a massive way with spending sprees in Europe and Australia, as well as North America prior to this first intervention in Japan.
He explained that this move was inspired by Japan's global approach on breeding.
"I think our participation in this sale is a testament to the wonderful job the Japanese have done importing many top mares and stallions to their country from around the world," Stewart said. "We appreciate the JRHA and Northern Farm for breeding such a nice selection of quality horses."
