Football agent ruthlessly sacks top jockey by text for “mistakes” in £1m race

11 September 2023 , 08:48

616     0

Football agent ruthlessly sacks top jockey by text for “mistakes” in £1m race

A top jockey has revealed he has been sacked from his high profile job with big spending owners Amo Racing.

Kevin Stott has delivered Group 1 and Royal Ascot success for the powerful racing operation run by football agent Kia Joorabchian, whose horses have won more than £1.5 million in prize-money this year.

The star horse was King Of Steel, who finished second in the Derby and won the King Edward VII Stakes at the royal meeting under Stott.

The colt started a strongly fancied 100-30 for the £1 million Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

But he could finish only fourth behind Auguste Rodin, who beat King Of Steel at Epsom in June. It was to prove a forgettable weekend for the team whose top two-year-old Bucanero Fuerte was also defeated.

Oisin Murphy secures ride in £1.25 million race on return from 14-month ban

Interviewed after the Champion Stakes by RTE, Joorabchian claimed Stott "made a couple of mistakes" and King Of Steel "wasn't given the best chance to win" as he was beaten a length by the winner.

Danish-born Stott, who has ridden 81 winners in Britain this year, revealed on Monday that he had been sacked from his role with Amo Racing

Kevin Sott: had enjoyed a rewarding year for Amo Racing (Getty Images)

He told the Racing Post, "I was informed this morning that I will no longer be riding for Amo Racing. It was obviously very disappointing news but a reason for the decision was not given to me, so there isn't a lot I can say.

"I do want to thank Kia and all the Amo trainers for the opportunities given to me this year. There have been some incredible moments, one of them being riding Amo's first Group 1 winner.

"What has happened is disappointing but I'm still looking forward to the rest of the year and beyond."

Stott, who had a trial with Tottenham Hotspur as a teenager. was hired for the role in February as a replacement for Rossa Ryan in the summer of 2022.

Joorabchian, who appointed Stott to replace Rossa Ryan whose retainer came to a premature end last summer, said the decision was not based on “one ride or one performance”. He said there had been “a little bit of turmoil” during the year.

Speaking to the Nick Luck Daily Podcast from the sales in Keeneland, Joorabchian said: “We’ve had a great season but sometimes things that are not really revealed in the public domain create a situation. I think Kevin knows that.

“We had always decided it would be a one year contract not longer and we haven't really done anything other than say thank you very much and the year is over and that's the end of that."

Jon Lees