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Joorabchian has maximum faith in ‘fantastic’ Ancient Egypt
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sun 26 Jul 2026
Kia Joorabchian is adamant it is a case of when Amo Racing’s star performer Ancient Egypt will land one of racing’s biggest prizes and not if following excellent efforts at Royal Ascot and ParisLongchamp.
Charlie Johnston’s three-year-old was one of many to suffer during a rain-lashed Derby at Epsom, but the Frankel colt showed he deserves to be at the top table with his two latest performances.
He was engaged in an enthralling battle with Causeway when going down by a neck in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting, before looking like he might claim Group One gold in the Grand Prix de Paris, only to be denied on the line by William Haggas’ fast-finishing Derby runner-up Maltese Cross.
“He’s fantastic isn’t he? He’s been unbelievable,” said Amo founder Joorabchian.
“When you think about his last two runs, the Derby was one we can put a scratch through as it was soft ground and he doesn’t really like soft ground.
“But to come back and reverse the form at Ascot and do what he did in the Grand Prix de Paris just shows how he’s developed as a horse, and how he is getting bigger and stronger.
“I think he is a horse that reminds me of King Of Steel – he’s been a bit unlucky and been unfortunate in a couple of these races.
“And then he’ll come out and get one or two of those really big ones. It’s just going to be when.
“We might have to drop him back a little at some stage – everyone is supportive that he needs a mile and a half, but I think if you drop him back a little bit in trip, he’ll be leading and have a better chance.
“It shows his versatility, he has unbelievable versatility and to see the pedigree of him is unbelievable, being a Frankel.
“With that versatility and that diversity that he can go 10 furlongs and a mile and a half, that is a big positive for us going forward because we can enter him in multiple different races and have him as a very diversified horse in that sense. He’s a horse that everyone dreams of having.”
No firm plans are in place for Ancient Egypt, who started his three-year-old campaign with Listed success at Newmarket.
However, Joorabchian did hint at a potential trip Stateside for Grade One glory on August 15.
“I don’t know where we are going to go next, Charlie and I are talking about it,” he added.
“We might venture for the big American race called the Sword Dancer at Saratoga, which I’m potentially aiming him at.
“We’ve got a variety of options at the moment.”
An Amo colt who has recently added a Group Two to an already impressive CV is the Robson De Aguiar-trained Power Blue.
The Phoenix Stakes winner went off as 11-10 favourite in the Minstrel Stakes last weekend and the drop back to seven furlongs did the trick as he sealed a comfortable length-and-a-half triumph at the Curragh.
Now a return to Group One company beckons in the shape of the City of York Stakes on the final day of the Ebor Festival.
“He’s doing good, he’s in good shape,” Joorabchian said.
“”He’s exactly where we expected him to be and we were really hoping he’d come out and excel in his three-year-old career. Maybe he wasn’t ready at the very beginning and we ran him in the (2000) Guineas and were a little optimistic, but now he has come back to himself.
“Robson has done a great job with him and I think the City of York (will be next).”
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