Kia Joorabchian’s top man behind the scenes at Dominic Ffrench Davis stable applies for UK trainer’s licence

RAPHAEL FREIRE, a key cog in Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation, has applied for a trainer’s licence in the UK.

He was a jockey in his native Brazil before moving to Scandinavia in his mid 20’s where he trained for several years in Norway.

But he was head-hunted by Amo in 2022, and he has been working at the stable of Dominic Ffrench Davis since.

He has had one runner in Britain in the past, saddling 50-1 shot Hotline Bling in a Group 3 at Glorious Goodwood in 2022, with the horse finishing fifth.

When Freire, 28, initially moved to the UK he had issues getting a work visa, but that was sorted out and his trainer’s application is now in the hands of the BHA.

Freire said: “I have made my application, I don’t know how long it will be before I hear back. 

“I can’t control these things, I just have to be patient and hope it goes OK.”

It is unclear what a successful application would mean for Ffrench Davis if Freire is granted his trainer’s licence, given the Brazilian would likely be heavily backed with Amo horses.

Freire is considered a major cog in the Amo operation and he plays a key role in the preparation of their horses at Ffrench Davis’ Lambourn yard.

He is part of a big Brazilian contingent who work for Joorabchian, with Robson Aguiar running a yard for the owner in Ireland where Amo’s horses are pre-trained before being sent back to their trainers at the start of each season.

Freire continued: “I love being in the UK and working with such good quality horses.

“You want to be at these big tracks on the big days with good horses, it is what you dream about.”

Joorabchian’s and Amo Racing have rarely been out of the headlines over the last few years.

He recently removed a number of horses from trainer Roger Varian’s yard after a bust-up, including Group 1 winner King Of Steel.

That horse sadly suffered an injury and could be out for the remainder of the 2024 season.

And Joorabchian has hired and fired a handful of different jockeys, too.

He parted company with Rossa Ryan in 2022 and employed Kevin Stott as his retained rider, only to split with Stott towards the end of last season.

He replaced him with David Egan, who has made a good start to life in the purple silks of Amo.

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