KIA JOORABCHIAN didn’t waste any time getting the cheque book out as he made a big splash early in the opening session at the world-renowned Tattersalls sales.
The football agent and Amo Racing supremo shelled out a whopping £3.78million to buy a colt by the legendary Frankel at the October Yearling Sale.
Joorabchian, who recently joined forces with Nottingham Forest chairman Evangelos Marinakis, also bought the colt’s sister for £4.4m here 12 months ago.
Joorabchian was bidding outside of the main arena and came out on top after a ding-dong head-to-head battle with heavyweights Coolmore.
The colt is out of the Group 2 winning mare Aljazzi and his dad, Frankel, has become one of the world’s best stallions.
And his new owner has been making his presence felt in sale rings around the world over the last few years, spending over £20m at this sale last year alone.
He also purchased the historic Freemason Lodge stables in Newmarket – formerly the base of Sir Micheal Stoute – and has spent a fortune renovating it for his private trainer Kevin Phillipart de Foy.
Kia’s team of advisors have spent several days at Tattersalls scouting the 179 lots in Book One – the most prestigious sale in the UK.
They pinpointed this horse, who was catalogued as Lot 15, at an early stage and he will now head into training with de Foy.
Joorabchian said: “The boys loved him, we could not let him go, we want to keep the family tight and see how the family works out – obviously if he becomes a good horse, he is going to be a stallion. He probably goes to Freemason.
“Obviously, we like the filly, his sister, though she has not run yet.
“This is a different project – if she does not run she still has a huge residual value as a broodmare, and we have five stallions.
“If he does not, then it is a different kettle of fish.
“We paid more than we were expecting, then we are up against Coolmore and it is five partners against one. It is an early strike!”
Consignor Julian Dollar of Newsells Park Stud said: “Honestly, when I did the budget in December, I put a ‘measly’ half a million to him.
“He was a big raw Frankel, but he has really come together through the year, especially in his prep.
“Coming in here, I thought there was a chance he might make seven figures, it was a bit like the filly last year.
“But, when two big hitters lock horns, there is always a chance they can make unbelievable amounts, which that was.”
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