Amo Racing set sights on first Group 1 after electric start to Flat season

A first top-level success in 2022 is the target for Amo Racing, whose season started in style with three winners from four runners on Saturday.

The curtain-raising Brocklesby at Doncaster was won in emphatic style by Persian Force and there was further success at the Curragh, where Malex made a winning start before the well-backed Raadobarg burst through the crowd to win the Irish Lincolnshire.

“It was really, really good,” said Emily Scott, racing manager for football agent Kia Joorabchian's operation.

"We outdid our expectations and although you plan for that sort of result, we were very pleased with how things went.

“It was nice to start things off like that in Ireland too, winning one of the biggest premier handicaps of the year; we’re thrilled.”

Persian Force and Malex are two exciting prospects and although they will take things one step at a time, there is clearly an air of excitement surrounding the pair.

Speaking on Sunday, Scott said: “Malex has got a lot of class, you only have to look at yesterday to see that. Hopefully, he can show that he’s a stakes horse in time; we were delighted about Saturday.

“Persian Force’s attitude and straightforwardness shone at Doncaster. He travelled beautifully and when Rossa [Ryan] gave him a squeeze, as the commentator said, he went into 'turbo-mode'.

Persian Force: captured the first Flat race of the seasonCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

“Rossa said after the race you don’t know what’s under the bonnet and that run didn’t scratch the surface.”

Amo Racing had 49 winners in Britain and Ireland last year, including impressive Group 2 Rockfel Stakes winner Hello You. They will have a 75-strong team of horses in 2022 spread across Britain, Ireland and the United States, and it is the in latter two where they are targeting expansion.

Scott said: “We have about ten horses in training in Ireland. It’s certainly somewhere we’re looking to have a few more based, all our horses are pre-trained in Ireland over the winter, so it makes sense for some of them to stay there and train.

“We’ll have up to ten in the US too, including some two-year-olds that we purchased at the sales last year. We also have some that we sent over from England thinking it might suit them.”

Amo Racing have sent their horses abroad for lofty targets, with Go Bears Go and Hello You making trips to last year’s Breeders' Cup, and they will continue to chase prizes across the globe.

“We’re definitely looking to race wherever we can in the world for our horses to achieve their best. You want to go where the prize-money is and with higher-rated horses, you’ve got a reason to go pot-hunting abroad.

“The elusive Group 1 is the aim. We had two Group 2 winners last year, so if any of our horses can win a Group 1 that would achieve our goal.

“There’s no denying what we’ve put into racing from an investment point of view and the results are starting to show. It’s very exciting and hopefully we can go on this year and better last season’s tally.”

Three Amo Racing horses to note

Mojo Star
Richard Hannon

The flag-bearer for Amo last season, Mojo Star was second in both the Derby and St Leger and a Group 1 prize is surely on the horizon.

He was ultimately very unlucky to come away from his three-year-old campaign with just one win from six starts, as shown by his £431,740 career earnings and high RPR of 118.

Rossa Ryan said after last year’s Arc that he would be “a top horse at two miles next year” and it will be interesting to see where Richard Hannon runs him in 2022.

Malex
Mike O’Callaghan

Costing 425,000gns as a yearling, there are big expectations of Kodiac’s son Malex and Emily Scott’s comments back up the theory he could be very classy.

There is plenty of stamina in his pedigree and that was evidenced by the way he charged home at the Curragh under Leigh Roche, edging past the 100-rated Boundless Ocean in the final stride.

Running well in a pair of Group 3s at Leopardstown last season, their is plenty of substance to the form and it will be fascinating to see where he is pointed next, with the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial noted by trainer Mick O'Callaghan.

Kingmax
David Loughnane

A potential improver this season is Kingmax, who built on two six-furlong runs for Roger Varian by making a winning debut for David Loughnane at Kempton earlier this month.

Costing £120,000 as a yearling, there is enough stamina in his pedigree to suggest he will stay the middle-distances this term, and a 2,000 Guineas entry suggests that connections think highly of him.

Read these next:

Royal Ascot calling? Persian Force bolts up in Brocklesby for Ryan and Hannon

Over 50% off Racing Post Members' Club!Members' Club is the only subscription racing fans and punters need in order to stay informed and make smarter betting decisions. Features include early access to the Racing Post digital newspaper, exclusive news and interviews, premium tips and form study tools to assist with betting. Select 'Get Ultimate Monthly' and enter code TRYME to get your first month for just £14.99* – that's better than half price!

Subscribe now

If you decide that Members' Club is not for you, then you can cancel at anytime by contacting us.

*Members' Club Ultimate Monthly first month will be charged at £14.99, renews at full price thereafter