Amo Racing confusion as Rossa Ryan announces Joorabchian split on ITV

Owner Kia Joorabchian said on Friday that retained jockey Rossa Ryan had been removed from riding for him this weekend while an internal investigation was carried out but expressed surprise at Ryan's announcement live on ITV Racing that he had split with the operation.

Ryan, 22, joined Amo Racing in 2020 as football agent Joorabchian started to greatly expand his racing interests in Britain and Ireland, but said on Friday that "me and Amo have departed our own ways" moments after steering State Occasion to victory at York.

He added: "Kia and all the team were great to me there and I can only be thankful for what they offered me, it was brilliant. They took my career to a new level and I wish them the best of luck.

"Hopefully it won't be the last time I ride for them, hopefully I'll pick up a couple later in the year as spares, but not as first jockey."

However, Joorabchian, 51, outlined that Ryan had not been sacked prior to speaking on ITV Racing, but had been replaced on Amo Racing's runners over the weekend, which are set to include Persian Force in the Group 1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville, while it was established why the jockey had chosen to ride at York on Friday rather than at Newbury, where the owner had expected him to ride.

Rossa Ryan: won't be aboard Persian Force in Sunday's Prix MornyCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Joorabchian added that while Ryan remained under contract with Amo Racing, there would now be discussion around its termination.

He said: "Amo suspended Rossa Ryan for the weekend pending an internal investigation. I'm deeply saddened by this as I took Rossa on as an apprentice and I supported him throughout when he had his injury. I have always been very loyal to him and have taken him to the Arc, the Breeders' Cup and always trusted him."

An influential football agent who courts the likes of Aston Villa forward Philippe Coutinho among his clients, Joorabchian has substantially increased his investment and influence in racing over the last three years with the likes of Derby second Mojo Star and Group 2 winners Go Bears Go, Persian Force and Hello You carrying the owner's purple silks.

The owner has also been a major spender at the sales, signing for more than £6.5 million worth of horses at the yearling and breeze-ups in Britain and Ireland in the last two years to race under the Amo Racing banner, with large sums also spent on horses he runs in partnerships.

However, Joorabchian has also been involved in controversy, with the likes of Ralph Beckett and Archie Watson losing horses having fallen out with the owner.

In addition to his racing interests, Joorabchian has launched a range of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), a tradable cryptocurrency asset, linked to horses he had in training under the newly formed Omnihorse banner.

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