Football, Racing and Mattresses Collide
Newsletter #4
George talks…
BBT Digest
Here are three points on the business of horse racing, bloodstock and sports that I found interesting reading this week.
The Million is Back!
The boom must be back. Having been discontinued in 2010. Goff’s have brought back their 2 year old sales race. Great news for the Irish yearling sales this year.
Throwback : “He looked like a movie star of a horse”
https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/barry-irwin-day-dr-fager-gave-me-goosebumps/
Barry Irwin, CEO of Team Valor , the most successful horse racing syndicate in the world. He speaks about the great horse Dr. Fager and his first glimpse of “the movie star”.
Mattress Mack loses his Kentucky Derby $2.4 million bet, but still wins?
We need more people in racing like this. An American treasure and marketing magician. This is a fantastic story of engineering a win - win scenario.
Jim “Mattress Mack” Mackingvale
People in Racing
What do David Luiz, Carlos Tevez and Kaka all have in common? Despite being elite football players, they were all advised or involved in contract negotiations with Iranian born football adviser Kia.
Name: Kia Joorabchian
Age: 49
Occupation: Football advisor, Founder of Media Sports Investments.
Net worth: $3-5 million
Racing Name: Amo Racing Ltd
The thrill of brokering multi million dollar deals was not satisfactory enough, enter Amo Racing. Hitting the yearling market in 2017.
Horse: Baradar
Sire: Muhaarar
Form: 3rd in Group 1 as 2yo last year
Entries: Irish Guineas, St James Palace.
Sales price: 260,000gns
Baradar wins on debut at Newbury for Amo Racing.
Far from price sensitive, Amo is searching for top class racehorses to compete at the highest level, having spent north of £1 million on yearlings last year and a similar figure on breeze up horses.
In December 2020 at Tattersalls he tried to outmuscle billionaire owner of bloodstock behemoth Coolmore John Magnier for a £2.2 million broodmare, see full article here. He didn’t succeed at this battle but is this a sign of things to come?
Beach Frolic at 2020 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Underbid by Kia and his team.
With a track record for nurturing young football players. Kia is supporting young Newmarket trainer George Boughey, they had a recent winner Forca Brazil.
Horse: Forca Brasil
Sire: Cotai Glory
Form: Won 2yo maiden
Entries: Royal Ascot
Sales price: 60,000gns
Advised by shrewd agent Alex Elliot and breeze up maestro Robson Aguiar. There may be signs of Amo Racing hitting the USA. Kia and his team made a $300,000 breeze up purchase in Florida at the Gulfstream Sale. Could this burgeoning owner help replace the weakening of Arab support for blue chip bloodstock globally?
Charlie talks…
This week sees Chester racecourse take centre stage as “The Roodee” hosts key Derby and Oaks trials. Side note on “The Roodee” explanation here for those who are curious!
A course that hasn’t always been a favourite of mine but I have grown to enjoy its charms and unusual design. See a birdseye view of the track below.
Looking at its tight bends it must be a nightmare for a jockey to ride. Compare this with a “galloping track” as they are called like Leopardstown in Ireland. See Below. The bends above are tight and continuous. This course is a real specialists track so keep an eye out for horses that have course form.
The Chester Cup is one of the seasons staying handicap highlights. This renewal is another competive looking contest. The ground is key as we move from soft to dryer conditions. Will fitter, softer ground horses act on the current harder ground than they have had so far this season? Or will the unfit fast ground horses have enough sharpness/fitness to see out the distance? Over the 2 mile 2 furlong trip the draw is very important. If you get caught out wide on a tight track its unhelpful as you travel further than those on the inside. If you are on the inside you will have lots of traffic pass (unless you lead). Glencadam Glory who is well birthed in stall 9 looks my idea of the winner. Well handicapped on his best form and fit from a run already, he should go close and looks a solid each way bet at around 16/1, his form and profile is here for you to study.
Horses to Follow:
Glencadam Glory - 2.45 Chester Friday 7th May - Chester Cup https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/13/chester/2021-05-07/780496/