'We never sacked Rossa' - Joorabchian plays down Amo Racing drama

Amo Racing owner Kia Joorabchian expects to know the results of his operation's internal investigation into retained rider Rossa Ryan next week.

Ryan announced the pair had split after riding State Occasion to victory for Ralph Beckett at York on Friday, a position the owner subsequently refuted.

The 22-year-old jockey was replaced on Amo Racing's runners over the weekend, including 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 attend.

Joorabchian said on Saturday evening: "We never sacked Rossa and we never asked to terminate his agreement. What we did tell him was due to the situation which has occurred – which is private – we need to investigate, so therefore he wouldn’t be riding for us at the weekend until we get to a final decision.

"We're doing some work on something that we need to be clear [about]. Rossa was on only two horses this weekend anyway and we'll see where we are once we’ve done that.

"This year we’ve seen Prince Faisal split with David Egan, King Power have split with Silvestre de Sousa and John Gosden had a turbulent moment with Frankie. There’s a lot of that happening."

Persian Force: the colt will be ridden by Frankie Dettori in the Prix MornyCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

He said: "It’s nothing terrible, it’s just part of racing. When people on my team and trainers ask me to look into things, I have to respect them."

Leigh Roche rode Olivia Maralda to finish second in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday, while Frankie Dettori replaced the injured James Doyle on Persian Force, who was beaten by Blackbeard in the Prix Morny having been sent off an 11-8 favourite. Ryan meanwhile had five rides at Brighton.

Joorabchian, a football agent who has expanded his interest in racing in recent years, was unperturbed by the rider's interview on ITV but was not prepared to say whether he would use him again.

"I will never have any animosity towards him however it goes, but I need Amo to be a team," he said. "I can’t have that not happen, and that includes my trainers, my pre-trainers, my racing managers, my jockeys; they have to work together and that is very important."

He added: "The team is very stable. We're all very unified and we’ve got Frankie riding, so I think we’re in good shape."

Rossa Ryan: centre of a 'private' investigation by Kia Joorabchian's Amo RacingCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Joorabchian said Amo Racing was experiencing a bout of 'seconditis', with Olivia Maralda's effort coming after Indestructible's second in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York on Wednesday, and Sunday is set to be an important day for the team.

Hello You lines up for David Loughnane and Ben Coen in the Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes (4.00) at Naas and Persian Force will attempt to give the owner a first Group 1 at Deauville.

On the chances of Persian Force, who was runner-up in the Phoenix Stakes 15 days ago, Joorabchian said: "Richard Hannon said the horse is ready. Personally, I always like to give them a little more time, but we are where we are and we’re going to have a good crack at it."

Recent Phoenix Sprint Stakes winner Go Bears Go has options at Haydock and Ascot before a possible first tilt at a mile at the Breeders' Cup, while Gold Cup second Mojo Star is on the easy list again after sustaining an injury.

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