Kia Joorabchian, the football super-agent and founder of Amo Racing, has made a powerful early statement at the elite Book 1 Tattersalls auction by purchasing Lot 15, a bay colt by Frankel, for £3.78 million. The acquisition marked the first seven-figure sale within an hour of the opening day, signaling Joorabchian’s continued ambition to compete with the sport’s most dominant bloodstock empires, Coolmore Stud and Godolphin.
After spending around £25 million at last year’s sale to secure 25 yearlings, Joorabchian showed a more measured approach this time around. Though his team still made significant investments, there was a noticeable sense of discipline, as he withdrew from certain bidding battles when prices climbed beyond his limits. Beating Coolmore to secure the prized Frankel colt, Joorabchian admitted that this particular horse had been a key target, being a full brother to a filly purchased by Amo Racing at the same auction last year for £4.62 million.
“The horse we wanted today was the Frankel,” he said. “We bought the sister last year, and we wanted to strengthen that family line.” However, when bidding reached £3.9 million for Lot 90, a Sea The Stars colt pursued by Godolphin, Joorabchian stepped aside. “You’ve got to be disciplined,” he noted, acknowledging the challenge of competing against established global operations.
Amo Racing’s other notable purchase on the day was another Frankel colt for £462,000, suggesting that the focus remains on securing elite bloodlines capable of developing into future stallions. Joorabchian has made clear his long-term goal of creating top-level stallions and building a lasting breeding operation capable of rivaling the long-established powerhouses of the sport.
He acknowledged that Coolmore and Godolphin have decades of head start, having developed their breeding stock over generations. “We’re playing catch-up,” he said, emphasizing that success in bloodstock requires patience and vision. “The top stallions are not for sale, so you need to create your own. That’s why the big colts are making the big numbers.”
Joorabchian’s latest high-profile purchase underlines his commitment to positioning Amo Racing among the world’s elite in Flat racing, blending ambition with a strategic approach in pursuit of breeding and racing excellence.
