Kevin Stott on Amo Racing split: "It's the loneliest I’ve felt in racing"

Kevin Stott has revealed how football trials as a teenager with Tottenham Hotspur helped inspire him to a successful career in the saddle that is back on the up following a high-profile split with Amo Racing in 2023. 

The Danish-born jockey - who rode a career-best 116 winners in 2022 - guided just 30 to success in 2024 but is already approaching that last figure this year, including almost double the total prizemoney earnings, and he explained to host Adam McNamara in the latest episode of Jockeys: The Podcast how his early setback with the Premier League club made him want to prove his doubters wrong. 

Stott explained: “The team I was playing for at the time was in the top three in Denmark at under 15s, and we were playing a tournament in Holland. 

“We played Chelsea's academy in the semi-final and they were unbelievable. They were like 14, 15-year-old lads that looked like grown men - they were coming out with beards, massive guys - and I'm running around there, tiny. 

“I think we lost about like seven or eight nil, but I actually had a good game considering we lost. 

“They invited me over and it was a great experience, but they told me I wasn’t wanted and I was very upset, obviously; it was all I'd ever wanted. 

“But it stood me in good stead. It definitely made me want to prove myself a little bit more. You can work hard, but there still will be people that don't think you're good enough, you know what I mean? 

“I always just had it in the back of my head that I'd been rejected by what I really, really wanted to do as a kid.” 

Following his unsuccessful trial, an undeterred 16-year-old Stott moved to England without his parents to pursue a career in the saddle which he was totally focused upon. He recalled: “It was pretty surreal to start with, but I was excited. I was on the phone a lot, don't get me wrong, but from then on you just have that tunnel vision of wanting to do really well and kind of not thinking of the family picture as much.” 

Stott duly rose to prominence under the watchful eye of trainer Kevin Ryan, a period in which he lived with four Irish jockeys which explains the emerald lilt to his accent, but revealed that he would have returned to Denmark not long after losing his 5 lb claim were it not for some timely guidance from Luca Cumani. 

He explained: "I wanted a new adventure, and I tried Newmarket and I was probably a little bit lonely down there just because I didn't really know anyone. It didn't turn out the way I wanted, and I was actually very, very close to moving back home to Denmark. 

"But Luca kind of said, 'move back up north and have another go’, otherwise I would have gone home. I wouldn't if I wouldn't be sitting here, that's for sure.” 

After several years of progression back with Ryan, Stott became Amo Racing’s retained rider in February 2023 but – despite riding their first Group 1 winner on Bucanero Fuerte - became one of several high-profile jockeys to split from the Kia Joorabchian-led group just eight months later when learning by text message that he had lost the role. 

Describing the period as ‘the loneliest I’ve felt in racing’, Stott revealed how he has since weathered the months of rebuilding, firstly in Lambourn and then since moving back to his adopted homeland back in the North more recently. However, it was the opportunity to go ride in New Zealand last winter which really stoked his desire to return to his best – both mentally and in the saddle. 

He explained: “When you're up there, it's all great because everyone wants to speak to you, you’re wanted by everyone. 

"And then all of a sudden, it's just no one. And that's scary. But it happens to a lot of jockeys, you know. 

“I was down in Lambourn where I hadn't been for very long. I was having to find a new agent, and that wasn't easy, and I was having to try to get into yards and trainers that I hadn't ridden for before. 

“They all had their own jockeys so I was just hoping that something would happen and I'm very grateful for the trainers and owners that supported me while I was down there. 

“I went into defence mode, which was the wrong thing to do, but I was angry and upset and I wanted people to feel sorry for me – but nobody did. 

“I didn’t know how to deal with that, but then I removed myself from the situation, and that was the best thing at the time. It got me back wanting to go racing and ride winners again.” 

The well-travelled jockey rode some high-profile winners in New Zealand – including the Group 1 Telegraph Stakes on the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Grail Seeker - and had planned to return, but is now settled back in the North of England where he continues to rebuild his career while navigating the challenges of a young family with his partner Niamh. 

“I’m in a very good place,” he added. “And I can’t wait to show people that.”