As lead advisor to Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley/Godolphin between 1994 and 2016, John has bred, bought and sold more thoroughbreds around the world than any other individual. He has set up stud farms in all the major racing territories, including the UK, Australia, the US, Japan and the UAE. He has acquired more than 20 individual Grade 1 winners for Godolphin. In 2007, he led the acquisition of the US’s 2nd largest bloodstock sales house, Fasig Tipton. He also led the creation of the Darley Flying Start programme, the leading vocational training programme for young stud and stable staff.

Since 2018 he has been Chairman of Kestrel Global, a strategic advisory business based in Dubai. In 2017 he was the founding Chairman of equine breeding analytics business, Eclipse Analytics and in 2021 the global bloodstock investment business Natalma, which uses the SA technology to inform its investment decisions.