Quotes of Interest From Aug. 26-Sept. 2

The Show: BloodHorse Monday, Aug. 31

The speaker: Trainer Brad Cox

The topic: Leading Change , the Travers Stakes (G1) winner Aug. 29 at Saratoga Race Course and the plans moving forward

The quote: "I always thought he was a grade 1 talent. He showed that on Saturday, and we're excited about the future and what grade 1s lie ahead for him. I mean, it's all about building his résumé and building a nice race record that obviously at some point with what he did on Saturday, he'll get the opportunity to be a stallion, and that's what we try to base our program around.

"I'm not certain we'll see him in the Breeders' Cup or not. And I'm not certain if we were to pursue the Breeders' Cup, we would need a race between now and then. But we'll let the dust settle, enjoy this victory, and I'm fairly certain the plan is to race him again next year as a 4-year-old, and that's exciting, and we'll see how things go. Obviously, the Wathnan Group, Qatar-based ownership of the Al Thani family, and I think the races in the Middle East do mean a lot to them, and we'll see how things go. But very fortunate to have the colt, and so I have to thank them for the opportunity, and looking forward to hopefully racing again next year in 2027 as well." 

The Show: At The Races With Steve Byk, Aug. 31

The speaker: Trainer Ron Moquett

The topic: Hymn , after winning the Forego Stakes (G1) Saturday at Saratoga and breaking an eight-year, New York grade 1-drought for Moquett

The quote: "It's never too far away from me that there's a lot of emotion attached with these types of performances. For me, I'm an emotional guy. ... I feed off of it, and it's hard for me not to be emotional when something like that happens. ... And, you're on TV, don't cry in front of people, you weak little man. And of course, my friends I grew up with are going, 'Dude, you won a race, get over it.' And I'm like, 'You just don't get it.' If it ever gets to a point to where I don't get emotional to win a race like the Forego, regardless of the connection to (former trainer) Bernie (Flint) or the drought, or the last time I was in the race with (Whitmore). All that stuff. If it ever doesn't make me emotional, then I'll quit and just start gambling."

The Show: Nick Luck Daily Podcast, Aug 31

The speaker: Trainer Aidan O'Brien

The topic: Irish Derby (G1) winner Benvenuto Cellini , and if the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp Racecourse or a race in the United States is in store

The quote: "He's done very well. Physically, I'm very happy with him. We thought it was a very big run in the King George (VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes), we felt maybe, with the benefit of hindsight, we maybe should have moved earlier. We followed Kalpana into the straight, where at the Curragh in the Derby, we moved four out on him, and he just got into that rhythm and just kept going. But in Ascot, we ended up following her and waited on her to go. And if you see him going to the line in the King George, he was really finishing out. So we feel there's plenty to come. Physically, he's done very well. He's mentally in a great place. Action is brilliant. So he's going to go to France for the (Prix) Niel, with the view that he would be ready to go to the Arc if the ground came up right, and if it doesn't, he will go to America and go to Hong Kong and all those places. But we think we haven't seen the best of him yet."