John Stewart snares Qld-bound Tutta La Vita

The next time Tutta La Vita is seen at the races she will be carrying colours racing fans the world over will need to get used to after her sale at Thursday night’s Chairman’s Sale in Sydney.

The triple Group 1 placegetter, a daughter of The Autumn Sun, got to $3.2 million before being knocked down to Resolute Racing, which is overseen by John Stewart.

The American businessman has made a massive impact in little more than 12 months since launching Resolute Racing, which included being underbidder on Winx’s filly and paying $3m for the daughter of Booker at last month’s Easter Yearling Sale.

Tutta La Vita’s career to date has been overseen by Chris Waller and the Hall of Fame horseman is excited about teaming up with Resolute Racing in pursuit of an elusive Group 1 win.

“They’re very passionate about racing around the world, in particular Australia and making their presence felt here and having a horse like Tutta La Vita obviously fits their bill,” Waller said of Resolute Racing.

“They’ve been buying horses ready to race in America and doing very well and getting horses up and running is what they’re keen to do.

“It looks like she’s going to stay in the stable, which is fantastic, and she will be a great flagbearer for Resolute Racing.”

Stewart outlasted Coolmore’s Tom Magnier, who earlier in the night paid $3.4 million for She’s Extreme, in the battle for Tutta La Vita, who was a $300,000 Easter Yearling Sale purchase by Kevin Kelly on behalf of Kevin and Vicky Payne.

Her only win from 11 starts to date came in a $150,000 2YO handicap at Rosehill last June, but she went on to finish third in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) last spring and this autumn placed in both the Surround Stakes (1400m) and Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Group 1 level.

At her most recent appearance she finished fifth in the Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) but she remains in training and will chance a maiden Group 1 win in the 2200m Queensland Oaks on June 8.

“She didn’t quite see the 2400-metre distance out in the Australian Oaks and the Queensland Oaks is only 2200,” Waller said.

“She’s well-prepared, she’s had that grounding of an Australian Oaks preparation and we did that previously with a few horses that didn’t win the Australian Oaks and that was the start of their career and winning sequence.

“She’ll have a run, possibly over a mile or 2000, as a prep run into the Oaks then I’d say next preparation we’ll concentrate on mile races.”

Waller has won three editions of the Queensland Oaks, the first with Winx in 2015 in what was the first of 25 Group 1 wins.