Kia Joorabchian

The GII Gulfstream Park Oaks brought a new contestant into the GI Kentucky Oaks picture in victress Affirmative Lady. The connections of the blossoming daughter of Arrogate are newcomers not only to the Oaks trail, but to racing in the U.S. After launching its American stable two years ago, AMO Racing celebrated its first graded stakes win in the States with Affirmative Lady's score on Saturday. Founded by football agent and businessman Kia Joorabchian, AMO Racing has proven to be a force on the other side of the Atlantic in...

   In this new series, the TDN takes a look at the success of European-based sires in North America, on a semi-weekly basis. This week's column (Feb. 18-Feb. 25) is highlighted by the victory of Godolphin homebred Lake Lucerne (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Albert M. Stall Memorial S. at Fair Grounds on Feb. 18. A worldwide influence for class, Dubawi celebrated his 250th stakes winner with Lake Lucerne's two-length victory for Brendan Walsh and Tyler Gaffalione in a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes in New Orleans eight days previously. The 6-year-old...

Group 1-winning rider Kevin Stott has been named the 2023 retained jockey for Amo Racing, Ltd. beginning on Mar. 1. The 29-year-old, who currently leads the All-Weather Jockeys' Championship, rode a career-high 116 winners in 2022. He was aboard Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) when winning the 2020 G1 Platinum Jubilee. "We're delighted to have secured Kevin as our number one rider for the 2023 season," said Amo Racing's Kia Joorabchian. "He is super-talented, and we consider him as one of the top tier elite Flat jockeys. "I am positive...

Michael O'Callaghan is eyeing big-race riches in Dubai with half-brothers I Am Superman (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and Fastnet Crown (Ire) (Hallowed Crown {Aus}) before making the move to a new purpose-built yard near the Curragh ahead of the turf season proper.  However, the leading Irish trainer has said that he remains in the dark over his position with Amo Racing despite sending out Crypto Force (GB) (Time Test {GB}) to secure G2 Beresford S. glory for Kia Joorabchian's major ownership vehicle at the Curragh last season.  Crypto Force joined the...

Group 2 winner Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}--Vida Amorosa {Ire}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}), placed three times at the highest level, has been retired to stand at stud in 2023, Amo Racing's Tom Pennington confirmed to the TDN on Sunday morning. A stud farm and fee for the precocious juvenile will be announced in the very near future. "Persian's done an incredible job, to be honest," Amo Racing's Kia Joorabchian told Nick Luck during Luck On Sunday. "He's done everything that Mehmas has done. Arguably, according to Richard Hannon,...

Group 2 winner Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is pointing to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, Amo Racing's Kia Joorabchian announced on Sunday. A winner of the G2 July S. at Newmarket in July, the colt has been placed in three successive Group 1 races since--second in both the Phoenix S. at the Curragh on Aug. 6, and the Prix Morny at Deauville on Aug. 21--and third in the Middle Park S. at Newmarket on Sept. 24. "He'll go to the Breeders' Cup and then we'll make a...

Amo Racing's appeal against the victory of The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot has been dismissed, despite the fact that Paul Hanagan's ride aboard the winner was described by the disciplinary panel as being "poor, reprehensible and self-evidently culpable". The Ridler, trained by Richard Fahey, caused interference to Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire}) and Brave Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation), who finished third and fourth in that order for owners Amo Racing and Brian Goodyear, respectively. Amo Racing's Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) ran...

Del Mar, CA--Friday's Breeders' Cup card has been branded as 'Future Stars Friday', and that tag rings true for not only the juveniles vying for divisional championships, but also for a handful of ascendent British-based trainers who have their first runners at the meeting. James Ferguson, who recently joined the Group 1 ranks, sends out Mise En Scene (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf, while fellow Newmarket conditioner George Boughey saddles Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) in the same race and Thunder Love (GB) (Profitable {Ire}) in the...