Kevin Stott’s William Hill blog: I’m delighted to have secured Amo Racing job

After being announced as the new retained rider for Amo Racing, William Hill ambassador Kevin Stott is looking forward to partnering some nice prospects in the coming months, as well as attempting to maintain his pole position in the All-Weather Championship.

The end of the AW season isn’t a million miles away, I’ve had an amazing few months. February has been a bit quiet, but I’ve had lots of chances and just need some luck again now. Hopefully I can hold on until the end [of the All-Weather Championship].

I’m absolutely delighted to have secured a new job with Amo Racing. They have a great team of horses and I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in. Hopefully there is a star among them.

A few I’m looking forward to are…

Crypto Force

This three-year-old colt was trained by Michael O’Callaghan last year and beat Auguste Rodin on debut at the Curragh. He went on to win the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the same course that September. Now trained by the Gosdens, he’s rated 109 off the back of his three performances as a two-year-old and we might see him in the Irish 2,000 Guineas or the Irish Derby.

He must have been a bit of a surprise for his breeders because in those three runs he’s doubled his sale price as foal already. There’s so much more to look forward to with this horse and I couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to ride him in races.

Walbank

Related to Group 1 winner Albigna and Listed winner Polybius (also an Amo Racing horse), this colt had a cracking two-year-old season with David Loughnane in 2022. In four runs, he’s won once and placed the other three times. Two of those places were at Royal Ascot and Goodwood, so Walbank is a serious horse.

A proper sprinter, he cost a pretty penny at the Breeze-Up sales but is looking like he was worth the price-tag so far! Let’s hope he can get his head in front in some nice races during his three-year-old campaign.

Mammas Girl

This filly wasn’t too expensive as a yearling, so she’s another one who’s looking to have been great value for her connections. She didn’t debut until late last year, running in a fillies’ novice at Newmarket halfway through October, but she was worth the wait as she won by two lengths.

She set off a bit keen that day for Sean Levey so she should come on for that and approach this year’s races with more of a level head. The fact that she won so well having been a bit over-enthusiastic at the start says a lot about her engine!

Her trainer Richard Hannon also trained her half-brother Master Of War to win a Listed race and place in plenty of Group races, so she’s definitely in the right hands with him.