Amo Racing expected to take over at Freemason Lodge next year with Raphael Freire set for Newmarket switch

Kia Joorabchian's purchase of Sir Michael Stoute’s Freemason Lodge stables has moved a step closer following talks in Newmarket on Tuesday, when representatives of Amo Racing and Sir Michael Stoute’s assistant trainer James Savage were seen together at the December Foal Sale at Tattersalls.

Savage, who has been understudy to Stoute since 2014, currently lives on site at Freemason Lodge, which has been the subject of a substantial bid by Joorabchian’s operation in the wake of Stoute’s decision to retire from training. The Racing Post understands that Amo are favourites to take over, especially as one of the other interested parties has recently dropped out.

Savage was joined at Park Paddocks by Amo Racing secretary Amy Drummond and the operation's current Lambourn-based trainer Raphael Freire, who was appointed private trainer to the operation this summer in place of Dominic Ffrench Davis.