Top football agent Kia Joorabchian trying to win the best King George 'for 25 years' with superstar horse

The Sun

28 July 2023

Top football agent Kia Joorabchian trying to win the best King George 'for 25 years' with superstar horse

KIA JOORABCHIAN is hoping to win the biggest race of the season with one of the biggest horses around.

The gigantic King Of Steel - in truth King Kong would have been a more fitting name - is among a host of star names in today's King George.

The three-year-old is built like a Brinks truck - but there is more to this big boy's game than just sheer brawn.

He isn't short of speed, agility and staying power - and he is going to need every one of those qualities to win this afternoon's box office Group 1.

You can keep Barbie and Oppenheimer... this is the kind of blockbuster we have been waiting for.

An A-list cast will head to post in Ascot's big race in a throwback to the golden era of middle distance legends in the 1970's and 80's.

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Leading owner Joorabchian is well aware of the task that lies ahead of his horse, with the likes of Emily Upjohn, Hukum and Pyledriver lying in wait.

And then there is the small matter of Auguste Rodin, who came and did King Of Steel late in the Derby back in June.

Racing fans were hoping for a rematch between the Epsom one-two and they've got it - with some of the best older horses in the world thrown in for good measure.

King Of Steel earned his place in the field with an easy win in the Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, and trainer Roger Varian was eyeing a softer Group 1 in France as his next target.

But Joorabchian, 52, wasn't having any of that. For him it was go big or go home.

Joorabchian said: “It’s the biggest race of the year, there is no question about it, and it’s one of the most exciting races we have had for a long time.

“It’s probably the best King George of the last 25 years, I definitely don’t remember a better one.

“I believe sport is all about the best playing the best, they have to compete against each other as that is what makes it entertaining for fans around the world.

“We are extremely proud to be participating, it’s an honour to have a horse as good as him who is one of the favourites.

"He is a big guy - someone joked to me they thought he was a police horse - and Roger expects him to improve with time and racing.

“You will never see us hide and take the easier option, we want to go up against the best and if we lose on a given day, it wasn’t to be and we move on.”

Having said that, Joorabchian is as competitive as they come. He doesn't like losing.

Probably because he made his fortune as a football agent, which is about as cut-throat as an industry gets.

Football will always be his number one love, but he admitted racing gives him a different sort of buzz and is probably only a neck or so behind the beautiful game.

He said: “It is a different thrill to football, football is a big part of my life. You get an adrenaline rush before and during a big game.

“The difference is that if you concede a goal you still have hope and time to get back into the game.

“In racing the margins are so fine and it can be over so quickly. When you pass the winning line and you have that anticipation, the adrenaline rush is so intense.

“If King Of Steel was a footballer he'd be Carlos Tevez - but much bigger! Or maybe he’s Haaland - they are both special, very big but incredibly light on their feet."

The horse will need to be light on his feet if he is to win the King George.

Because, with Ballydoyle set to have four runners, Joorabchian hinted he is concerned about the potential for team tactics.

In the past, O’Brien and the Coolmore ‘lads’ have masterminded several victories - and the downfall of some big rivals - by using their lesser lights as spoilers.

Joorabchian said: “I just hope it is a fair race, I hope nobody tries to dominate the pace or alter the format of the race and they let the best horse on the day win.

“Aidan is one of the greatest trainers of all time, and if there is someone that knows how t o win a race, it’s him.

“You have to respect him for that. If they have four or five horses good enough to run, that is a sentiment to them and the success of their operation.”

Joorabchian's Amo Racing operation might not be in the same league as Coolmore right now - but they are having their best ever year.

The only thing missing from the CV is a Group 1 win, with more second place finishes than he would care to think about.

He added: “I have been second in about 100 Group 1s it feels like. Mind you, I was second in about 100 Royal Ascot races and then they started coming.

“This year we have a group of horses that have tremendous ability. Today we have runners in Group races in Ascot, Saratoga and Woodbine.

“We have a long way to go, we can’t get carried away because we aren’t near the big guns yet. We need to keep going and we need to be ruthless to grow.

“If he can win today it would be very special, it would be huge for everyone involved with Amo."

Huge... just like his star horse.