Tag Archive for: Kevin Stott

Elwateen has Bin Suroor dreaming of more Guineas glory

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Saeed bin Suroor may have unearthed a real gem after Elwateen made a winning debut at Kempton on Wednesday.

Held in high regard by her handler, the daughter of Dubawi and Group One winner Tawkeel was sent off the 4-6 favourite in the hands of Kevin Stott, showcasing her ability to repel the threat of George Boughey’s Orchid at the finish.

She scored by a length, with Archie Watson’s Star Stakes disappointment Del Ray bouncing back to some kind of form in third to suggest the result has some real substance to it.

Elwateen holds an entry for the Group One bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket on October 11 and although future plans are still to be determined, the youngster appears to have a bright future.

Bin Suroor told Racing TV: “She’s a nice filly, always I like her. For a two-year-old, she has always shown some class in the morning when she works.

“Tonight, I’d say she’s 80 per cent fit, so she’ll improve for the race and she looked like she needed it.

“She’s entered in a Group One, the Fillies’ Mile, but we’ll see how she comes back after the race and make a decision with Sheikha Hissa.

“Sometimes we have to give horses a chance to see how they improve from the race but I’m sure this filly will improve a lot, so we have to look after her for the future.

“If she does well here in the UK, maybe we can take her to Dubai, but otherwise she will stay here and could be one for the Guineas time, if she improves a lot.”

Although Bin Suroor is predominantly known for his handling of Godolphin stock, Elwateen was sporting the Shadwell silks of Sheikha Hissa, the colours carried to victory by the trainer’s 1999 Dubai World Cup winner Almutawakel.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor with Mawj
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor with Mawj (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)

He returned to the big-race scene when Mawj landed the 1000 Guineas last year and when asked to compare his latest prospect to his Newmarket Classic heroine, Bin Suroor added: “Mawj showed plenty of speed, but this filly is for seven furlongs or a mile, maybe in the future she could go further, but she seems a nice filly.”

The man on board was also suitably impressed with the performance shown from Elwateen.

Stott added: “She’s done everything very professionally there, she’s obviously very well bred, she’s done her home work very well and when the penny dropped a furlong and a half out, she proper put her head down and galloped all the way to the line. There wasn’t anything there I could fault, really.

“The second probably got a length or two on me while I had to wait for the cut-out rail, but I was always comfortable. Saeed likes her a lot.”



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Amo Racing and Kevin Stott part ways

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Amo Racing has dispensed with the services of Kevin Stott as retained rider.

Stott, who replaced Rossa Ryan in the role earlier this year, rode Amo’s first Group One winner on Bucanero Fuerte in the Phoenix Stakes just last month and has enjoyed plenty of success in the purple and white silks.

However, Kia Joorabchian, the driving force behind Amo, voiced his displeasure at the ride Stott gave Derby runner-up King Of Steel in Saturday’s Irish Champion Stakes, in which he was beaten a length into fourth place by dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin.

Joorabchian told Sun Racing: “I told Kevin thank you very much. This was a collective decision on and off the racetrack.

“We have decided not to renew his contract for next season. It was always a one-year contract.”

Stott partnered King Of Steel to win the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, won the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes on Persian Dreamer, and the Craven on Indestructible among plenty of other big-race winners this term.

The 29-year-old had been stable jockey to Kevin Ryan in Hambleton before announcing he was to move south and ride freelance last autumn.

Kia Joorabchian (right) has not renewed Kevin Stott's contract
Kia Joorabchian (right) has not renewed Kevin Stott’s contract (Chris Ison/PA)

Joorabchian added: “We have done everything that we promised, he (Stott) has done everything he promised and we have parted ways, nothing more than that.

“I’ve never had a problem with jockeys. I never fell out with Rossa (Ryan), I love him more than anybody, he rode at Royal Ascot for me.

“He was my only retained jockey, he needed to go out on his own and get experience. I have supported him and he is thriving.

“But you know, Kevin is not a young boy, he has experience. For reasons outside of racing, I have to decide what’s best.

“I don’t know what jockeys we’ll use now, I’ll leave it to the trainers to pick the best available.”

Stott wrote on Instagram: “Good morning everyone, I’ve unfortunately woken up to a text message this morning being informed that I will no longer be riding for Amo racing

“I just want to say thank you to all the trainers and staff that’s supported through the year, I’ve been fortunate enough to ride some top class horses, I wish Amo racing all the best going forward.”



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Bucanero Fuerte rises to the challenge in Phoenix Stakes

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Bucanero Fuerte provided trainer Adrian Murray and owners Amo Racing with a first taste of Group One success with an impressive display in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

Third behind the unbeaten River Tiber in the Coventry at Royal Ascot, the Wootton Bassett colt had since edged out the reopposing Unquestionable to lift the Group Two Railway Stakes over the Phoenix course and distance.

Unquestionable was the 15-8 favourite for the rematch as he looked to provide Aidan O’Brien with a staggering 18th victory in the race, but Bucanero Fuerte reaffirmed his superiority in no uncertain terms under Kevin Stott.

On the speed from the start, Stott’s mount kicked away from Unquestionable entering the final two furlongs and it was soon all over bar the shouting.

Porta Fortuna, the previously unbeaten Albany Stakes winner, came from further back in an attempt to bridge the gap, but Bucanero Fuerte was well on top and had four lengths in hand at the line.

Stott saluted the crowd on passing the post, having claimed his first top-level win since being appointed number one jockey for owners Amo Racing earlier this year.

Murray said: “He was very impressive. We had him here 10 days ago doing a piece of work and Robson (Aguiar) got off him and said to me ‘this is the best horse I’ve ever ridden’. He was certainly correct in that one.

Bucanero Fuerte and Kevin Stott are greeted by Robson Aguiar (left) as they enter the parade ring after winning the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes
Bucanero Fuerte and Kevin Stott are greeted by Robson Aguiar (left) as they enter the parade ring after winning the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He’s a serious horse. That’s three runs and three wins here, he’s the horse of a lifetime.

“I’d say it’ll be the National Stakes now and I don’t think he’ll have any problem stepping up to seven (furlongs).

“He would prefer an ease in the ground, but he has won on good ground. The ground today would be a bit easier than the last day. He was very impressive in his maiden here on heavy ground, but it’s not an issue for him as he’s won on quick ground as well.

“It’s unbelievable and it’s hard to explain it. Robson is a master at picking horses at the sales.”



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Magical Sunset rises to the challenge in Oak Tree Stakes

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Magical Sunset finished with some gusto to secure the Whispering Angel Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood.

Richard Hannon’s filly won three times last season, including a Listed success, but could finish only fifth when favourite to make a winning reappearance in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury in April.

She had also troubled to fail the judge in four starts since, but bounced right back to the best in deteriorating conditions on the Sussex Downs.

Matilda Picotte cut out much of the running in the seven-furlong Group Three before being swallowed up by the chasing pack, and in the final furlong 4-1 joint-favourite Breege hit the front.

But Kevin Stott was biding his time in behind aboard 18-1 shot Magical Sunset and she picked up well once in the clear to get up and score by three-quarters of length.

Hannon said: “I think she would have been unlucky if she’d been beaten, she’s much better on this ground – she won the Radley Stakes at Newbury very well on it and that’s helped her today.

“She looked the best turning in at Sandown the other day and it looked to me like she didn’t get home, so we came back to seven furlongs today and I’m delighted. She won very well.

“The owner rang me and was actually pleased – that’s very rare! Group races are very hard to win. My god, there’s a massive bottle of Whispering Angel over there – he’s not getting that! That’s what you call tax…”

He added: “She’s a really sweet filly. She’s always been lovely, but she’s much better on that ground. She cost a few quid, mind you. She was unlucky in the Goffs Million, she’s getting her revenge slightly and getting her slice of luck.

“I think she’s entered in a Group Three in Deauville, so she might go there – she’ll have a penalty, obviously, but she’ll go wherever the soft ground is.”



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Stott harbouring healthy respect for Steel’s King George challengers

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Kevin Stott has full faith in King Of Steel ahead of his August Rodin rematch but is mindful that the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes is not a two-horse race.

The Roger Varian-trained colt was second under Stott in last month’s Derby, finishing half a length behind Auguste Rodin at huge odds of 66-1.

The grey, who is a strapping son of Wootton Bassett, looked the winner at the two-furlong pole but was eventually collared by the Aidan O’Brien-trained challenger.

Auguste Rodin went on the win the Irish Derby with a rather more laboured performance, whereas King Of Steel was imperious at the Royal meeting when cruising to a three-and-a-half-length win in the King Edward VII Stakes.

As a result the rematch is much anticipated, but the two rivals are not the only big names in a stellar line up for Saturday’s Group One held at Ascot.

King Of Steel and Kevin Stott at Ascot
King Of Steel and Kevin Stott at Ascot (David Davies/PA)

Last year’s hero and subsequent Hardwicke Stakes winner Pyledriver will line up, as will 2022 Derby victor Desert Crown – who is set to be ridden by William Buick – and his Brigadier Gerard conqueror Hukum.

Much of the conversation revolves around the clash between this year’s Derby one-two and though Stott is hopeful he can reverse the form, he is still holds great respect for the other contenders.

“It’s probably the Flat race of the season so far, you’ve got all the best horses in there – proven ones and upcoming ones,” he said.

“If it’s a 12 or 15-runner field then it’s going to be really, really exciting. There’s not long left now, he did a nice piece of work this morning and it’s all systems go.

“It’s by no means a two-horse race. There are some very high quality horses in there and especially if we are going to have ease in the ground, there are a lot of horses with very good form on slower ground.

Auguste Rodin (left) winning the Derby from King Of Steel
Auguste Rodin (left) winning the Derby from King Of Steel (Mike Egerton/PA)

“First and second in the Derby going at it again for the first time since the Derby is obviously a massive thing for everyone.

“You don’t know when you have so many good horses pitched against each other, it’s exciting and it’s very open. Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel are getting a bit of weight from the other horses as they are only three and the others are older and more experienced.”

Stott was visibly disappointed after King Of Steel’s Derby defeat, feeling he could have won had he timed his challenge differently, but having had time to reflect, he is more accepting of how the race panned out.

He said: “I still look at the replay now and again from the Derby and go over it again and again. I’ve got to the stage now where I wouldn’t change anything that I did, we just got run down by the better horse on the day.

“I had no pressure on me, I was just riding him to run well, to see what we had, to see if the home work was backing up in a race.

“Between the two and the three (furlong) pole I was in front by two and a bit lengths and the next thing you know I was screaming for the finish line.

“Unfortunately we just got run down by a very good horse on the day, hopefully we can turn the form around but we have to, first of all, beat some other very good horses in the race.

“It’s not just a race between the two three-year-olds, but I like to think that if it does come down to a battle again from the furlong pole, then hopefully our fella will pull it out.

“I’ve got a lot of faith in the horse, but then again Aidan O’Brien is the master of the world that we live in and even though Auguste Rodin’s win in the Irish Derby wasn’t as visually flattering as the English Derby, he is probably one of the nicest horses that Aidan has trained.”

The final field for the race has yet to take shape and Stott is avoiding getting too attached to fixed tactical plans as the declarations and the going could change the complexion of the contest.

“You can sit down and analyse it and you’ve got plan A and plan B, but within a second that can just disappear and within a second you can have to go for plan F,” he said,

“You go through it all the time, you’re thinking about what’s going to happen and sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.

“Just to be part of a race like this and to ride a horse of this calibre is very exciting.”



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Persian Dreamer upsets Star Of Mystery in Duchess of Cambridge

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Persian Dreamer downed the long odds-on favourite Star Of Mystery in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.

Kevin Stott ensured it was a happy birthday for Amo Racing boss Kia Joorabchian in the fillies’ Group Two contest, which had looked at the mercy of Charlie Appleby’s Star Of Mystery once George Boughey’s Soprano was declared a non-runner due to a medication mix-up.

Two of the four runners were trained by Dominic French Davis, with his second string Thanksbutnothanks taking the field along early and the favourite close by.

Persian Dreamer got back to winning ways
Persian Dreamer got back to winning ways (David Davies/PA)

But Persian Dreamer (5-1) – one place behind Soprano when fourth in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot – quickened impressively when asked and went on to win by a length and three-quarters, giving Stott a swift double after victory aboard the Charlie Johnston-trained Killybegs Warrior in the opening handicap.

Star Of Mystery (1-6) was a second odds-on favourite of Appleby’s to be beaten at the meeting following Adayar’s defeat on Thursday.

Ffrench Davis, celebrating his first Group winner, said: “We hit the crossbar a few times. It is a relief to win a Group race at last. She’s a smashing filly and has done nothing wrong all year, but needs to get her toe in the ground.

“We were praying for the rain today and it has come. I hoped it would rain.

“She was the last horse off the bridle at Ascot, she just doesn’t let herself down when the ground is as fast as that.

“I think she will be a lovely filly going forward. When she won on the Rowley Mile, I always felt that she might go on to be a Guineas filly next year.

“She gives you that sort of a feel. She’s done her bit for the moment and we will wait for the ground to be right and make sure the race is right and hope she will be going for a little soft-ground Group One in the autumn.

“We have got some nice horses, but never would have had this sort of class of horse at all (before Amo’s backing).”

Of the beaten market leader, Appleby said: “As we know with these small-runner events, they can become quite messy.

“It was contested early and she was lit up for the first couple of furlongs. Will (Buick) said she hit the lids and the other horse was sat on our girths and keeping us lit up. They got a nice tow into it and they picked up and saw it out better than we did.

“It is tough out there on the front with a headwind and it just paid that last couple of hundred yards.

“Fair play to the winner, they have got a nice tow and got cover pulled her out and picked her up.

“Small fields are the annoying ones, they can be more messy than the bigger ones. Our filly didn’t lose too much in defeat, but I think she’ll be better when she gets a bit of cover.

“She is most definitely a sprinter. Whether we look down the Lowther route or something, we’ll see. She is a this-year filly, on the scope of her anyway.”



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Steel too strong for Royal Ascot rivals

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King Of Steel gained compensation for his Derby near miss when storming to an impressive victory in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Roger Varian’s lightly-raced son of Wootton Bassett produced a tremendous effort on just his third start when touched off by Auguste Rodin at Epsom and confirmed the promise of that performance in the hands of Kevin Stott at the Berkshire track.

Dubai Mile led from Artistic Star in the early stages, with John and Thady Gosden’s Arrest keen in the hands of Frankie Dettori. But an ultra-confident Stott was in no rush and happy to bide his time aboard the 11-10 favourite, anchoring the King Of Steel in rear.

Stott asked his mount to improve as the six-strong field rounded the turn for home and having made stylish progress to the front, he soon defied momentary greenness to put the race to bed in fine style.

The rider, who was enjoying the his third Royal Ascot winner and first as retained rider for owner Amo Racing, was able to salute the crowd as he crossed the line three and a half lengths clear of Aidan O’Brien’s Continuous who kept on well for second, with Artistic Star a further two and a half lengths back in third.

It was a second winner of the week for Amo and also for the trainer, who struck on day one with Royal Champion, but has since seen big fancies Eldar Eldarov and Sakheer turned over and was making a welcome return visit to the winner’s enclosure.

Varian said: “It’s relief, when they run so well in the Derby you want them to back it up. We were confident he would but we know horse racing! It’s a tough game.

“He’d come out of the Derby so well, he’s such an agile horse and he’s got a great constitution. He’s never left an oat since the Derby, he’s been training super.

“I tried to put into the back of my mind that it was the Derby because we all know they can bounce after their effort at Epsom. I just went on the signs the horse was giving us, which were great.

“Raul Da Silva has done a wonderful job riding this horse most mornings, and the whole team at home. I’m delighted for Kia (Joorabchian of Amo), I was delighted he got his winner yesterday to take a bit of the pressure off for us!

“I’m delighted for the horse, he’s a super horse and he confirmed today what he did in the Derby which is very satisfying.”

Kevin Stott salutes the Ascot crowd on King Of Steel
Kevin Stott salutes the Ascot crowd on King Of Steel (David Davies/PA)

Connections had been eyeing the Grand Prix de Paris as a next port of call, and Varian added: “That’s what we’d like to do, but we all know horses so we’ll see how he is tomorrow.”

Stott admitted he had felt the pressure following King Of Steel’s Derby run.

He said: “From the first time I sat on him at Roger’s, he’s always given me a lovely feel. I remember coming home and saying to Meg (Nicholls, agent and partner) that I was really excited about this horse.

“Not running in the Dante, I was a bit disappointed because I wanted to see if he was what I felt at home.

“His run in the Derby was incredible, so coming here obviously there was a huge amount of pressure on me and Roger.

“He was a bit keen, we didn’t go overly quick. We could easily drop him back if we had to, he’s got plenty of speed and in four strides he put the race to bed. It’s brilliant for everyone here.”



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Kevin Stott announced as retained rider for Amo Racing

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Amo Racing Limited has announced Kevin Stott as its new retained rider for the 2023 Flat season.

The ownership group, led by football agent Kia Joorabchian, has become an increasingly powerful force in recent years, with winners Persian Force, Go Bears Go, Crypto Force and Hello You among those to carry their purple and white silks to Group-race success.

Rossa Ryan was previously the number one jockey for Amo Racing, but lost the job last summer, after which the likes of Frankie Dettori and Colin Keane were called upon for high-profile rides.

But in a statement released on Wednesday, it was confirmed that Stott, who enjoyed Group One success aboard Hello Youmzain in the 2020 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, will now ride the majority of Amo Racing’s horses.

Crypto Force and Colin Keane winning the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh
Crypto Force and Colin Keane winning the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA)

Joorabchian said: “We’re delighted to have secured Kevin as our number one rider for the 2023 season. He is super-talented, and we consider him as one of the top tier elite Flat jockeys.

“I am positive we can provide him with a platform from which he can excel further, and we look forward to a successful partnership.”

Stott said: “The Amo Racing job is arguably one of the biggest. The strength and depth they have at their disposal is second to none and I’m very excited to be part of the team. I look at this as the beginning of a long and successful partnership.

“I want to ride the best horses in the best races and that is the level Amo operate at. I can’t wait to get started.”



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