“I had a tenner each-way at 80-1 because I thought that was an insulting price”

There were plenty of celebratory quotes in 2018. 

Who said what in the 2018 QIPCO British Champions Series? We look back at some of the best quotes of the year.

MAY:

“I would rather back it than lay it.”

Michael Tabor after learning Saxon Warrior was Evens to win the Investec Derby after his QIPCO 2000 Guineas triumph

“I’m pinching myself. I was trying to watch it out the front (in the stands), but I didn’t bring my binoculars and I couldn’t see. All I could see was his white breast girth. When they came out of The Dip, I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got a chance of winning the Guineas here!’

An exultant Roger Teal after Tip Two Win had finished runner-up in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at 50-1

“I can’t remember if I put her in the Coronation Stakes or not!”

Richard Hannon after the shock win of Billesdon Brook in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas.  He hadn’t and she had to be supplemented

JUNE:

“I am not going to explain myself very well but it’s huge, it’s massive,” he said. “I have dreamed of this since I wanted to be a jockey. It’s the pinnacle of our sport, the Holy Grail, the be-all and end-all of everything.”

William Buick after winning the Investec Derby on Masar

“I felt sorry for those around us during the race. They must be deaf now! You might have to man the lifeboats as there will be floods of tears.”

Eve Johnson Houghton moments after Accidental Agent had won the Queen Anne Stakes

“The Derby was fantastic, but this horse means a lot.”

Charlie Appleby reveals Blue Point is one of his favourites after victory in the King’s Stand Stakes

“He’s a proper little staying horse that we call Mighty Mouse because he’s not very big – he looks a bit like a mini Trigger with his four white feet, but he is a gorgeous horse.”

John Gosden reveals the nickname of Stradivarius after his Gold Cup triumph

“The crowd were behind it – It was mental really. I was loving it. To get the three best horses in the final furlong battling it out, you can’t ask for more than that. Full credit to the horse, he was brave as a lion.”

Frankie Dettori jubilant after the win of Stradivarius in the Gold Cup

“He was touched two or three times by the winner and after that he refused to give the maximum. He can have a long career as he only does the minimum.”

Trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre on the virtues and weaknesses of Gold Cup runner-up Vazirabad

“I was very nervous today as I know she is a great filly. It was rather nice going into the Irish 1,000 Guineas as we were very much under the radar. Today we were there to be shot at.”

Jessica Harrington admits she had been feeling the pressure ahead of Alpha Centauri’s run in the Coronation Stakes. She need not have fretted

“She was awesome.”

Colm O’Donoghue sums up Alpha Centauri’s Coronation Stakes romp in three words

“We thought that it was an impossible task for him. We knew that he was meeting the field 12lb wrong than he was in Australia. He was only a three-year-old being treated as a four-year-old.”

Aidan O’Brien after Merchant Navy had completed Mission Impossible in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes

“The race didn’t really go to script for anyone.”

Ryan Moore, the winning rider, reflects on an eventful Diamond Jubilee Stakes

“It’s a big shame it has happened and it has affected the whole day really. I am just sorry for everyone.”

Clive Cox laments on Harry Angel, the Diamond Jubilee Stakes favourite, getting stuck in the stalls and hurting himself.

“I have been waking up in the middle of the night feeling a bit sick and I want to look at the race again because I didn’t really watch it.”

JULY:

Jessica Harrington reveals training Alpha Centauri has a downside after her win in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes

“Speed is his biggest attribute but heart is his next biggest, he never lies down and is an amazing horse.”

Aidan O’Brien pays tribute to Darley July Cup winner U S Navy Flag

“Good. I’ll pay for his ticket!”

Kevin Ryan, trainer of Darley July Cup runner-up Brando, after being told of Coolmore’s plans to give US Navy Flag a break and then run him in Australia.

“It was pity there was a loser. [James] Doyle could have done a little bit better and got a dead heat!”

Sir Michael Stoute after his Poet’s Word and Crystal Ocean had fought out a tremendous finish to the QIPCO-sponsored King george VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The former won by a neck

“He’s a little bit like a motorbike; he can go out there and do a little bit on his own or a bit in company. You press the button and off he goes, you flick the switch and he pulls up.”

John Gosden on Stradivarius after his Qatar Goodwood Cup triumph

AUGUST:

“I am more pleased for the horse than anybody.”

David Simcock after Lightning Spear had won the Qatar Sussex Stakes – his first Group 1 win after 16 runs at the highest level

“He’s a proper horse who has got bigger and stronger as the year has gone on. He’s a mile and a quarter horse through and through and I’d have been very disappointed if he hadn’t run like that today.”

John Gosden full of praise for Roaring Lion after his emphatic victory in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York

“She was devastating”

William Haggas was left very impressed by the easy win of Sea Of Class in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks

“First of all you need a tremendous horse, but you also need an enormous amount of luck and a very talented trainer to bring the horse to a peak four times in a season.”

Bjorn Nielsen on what it takes to the win in the Mansionbet Yorkshire Cup, Gold Cup, Qatar Goodwood Cup and Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup on the bounce. Stradivarius, trained by John Gosden, pulled it off

“I had a tenner each-way at 80-1 because I thought that was an insulting price. I knew I had him the best he’d ever been.”

Bryan Smart reveals his winning wager after Alpha Delphini’s Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes triumph at York

“I’m so lucky to have found so many good horses in such short space of time. This was great. He’s a horse I’d looked forward to riding all week.”

SEPTEMBER:

Oisin Murphy after landing the 32Red Sprint Cup on The Tin Man

“He’s a very uncomplicated horse with a fantastic attitude.”

Ryan Moore on the merits of Kew Gardens, the William Hill St Leger winner

“I had half a chance and took it, but you can only do that when you have plenty of horse.”

OCTOBER:

Frankie Dettori after squeezing through a gap on the rail and winning the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup on Stradivarius

 “I can’t put into words what it means to win for Richard [Fahey]. He’s never left my side and always been there for me, so I owe him a lot.”

Paul Hanagan after winning the QIPCO British Champions Sprint on Sands Of Mali

“He has proven his class and his guts to get there, but I think he was hating every second of running on that ground. You could that see from his action and the way he was carrying himself – I would not work him on that ground.”

John Gosden pays tribute to Roaring Lion after his win in the QIPCO Champion Stakes

“When Cracksman is in the zone, he is a very good horse. I would think it is quite likely he will go to stud as he is a four-year-old turning five. He is Frankel’s best son and it is lovely to see him back with a bang.”

John Gosden after Cracksman’s fabulous farewell in the QIPCO Champion Stakes