Kia Joorabchian, a high-profile football agent, has made waves in the world of horse racing with a massive spending spree ahead of the 2025 Flat season. Since first venturing into the racing scene in 2017, Joorabchian’s Amo Racing has consistently aimed to make a statement, but none of their prior investments have matched the scale of their off-season outlay in late 2024.
The Craven meeting at Newmarket marks the start of the British Flat season, and for Amo Racing, it’s a moment of high stakes. This year, Joorabchian’s team made headlines with their purchases at the Book 1 sale at Tattersalls in October 2024, where they outspent even the mighty Godolphin operation. Their 25 purchases included some of the most coveted yearlings in Europe. Among them was a filly by Frankel, which went for an eye-watering 4.4 million guineas (£4.6 million), and a Wootton Bassett colt that broke a record by selling for 4.3 million guineas, the highest price for a yearling colt at a European auction. Additionally, they secured a sister to Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Alpinista for 2.5 million guineas.
Amo Racing also targeted proven older horses, notably acquiring You Got To Me, last year’s Irish Oaks winner, for 4.8 million guineas. She will be aimed at the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June before joining Amo’s growing broodmare band. Alongside these purchases, perhaps the most significant move came when Joorabchian acquired Freemason Lodge Stables in Newmarket, a historic training facility that had been the base for Sir Michael Stoute for much of his illustrious career. This move signals Joorabchian’s commitment to staying in the game long-term, a shift from his earlier impatience for quick results.
The appointment of Raphael Freire as the new trainer at Freemason Lodge further solidifies Amo Racing’s aspirations. Freire, a former jockey from Brazil, takes the reins at the stables and is expected to manage an ever-growing string of Amo-owned horses. His first major runner from Freemason Lodge, Benevento, is set to compete in the Craven Stakes, with an eye on the 2,000 Guineas. Freire is one of several trainers handling Amo’s horses, with Ralph Beckett, who was reemployed after being dismissed by Joorabchian in 2021, also managing You Got To Me and some of their top yearlings from the Book 1 sale.
While Joorabchian’s recent investments and managerial changes may indicate a more settled approach, the real test will be whether his high-profile purchases can challenge the dominance of established racing powerhouses such as Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle, Godolphin, and Juddmonte. These stalwarts of British racing are the teams to beat, and for Amo Racing, the goal is clear: disrupt the established order and make a mark at the highest level. The big-money signings will need to live up to their price tags, and it will be fascinating to watch their progress throughout the season.
For Newmarket and the wider racing world, the 2025 season promises to be one of renewed optimism and fierce competition. As the Flat season kicks off, all eyes will be on Joorabchian and Amo Racing to see if their lavish investments will lead to the success they hope for, or if they’ll join the ranks of many others who’ve tried and failed to establish themselves as elite contenders in the sport.
