Brad Cox On Knick-go’s Trailblazing Saudi Cup Run, Monomoy Girl And His Family

“He works as hard as any trainer I've been around,” Sol Kumin, a co-owner of another stable star Monomoy Girl, said at the Breeders' Cup. “It's a family affair with him, with his two sons in the barn all the time. They're not doing much else; they're watching races when they don't have horses running. They're thinking about it all the time. He's got a great team and a great staff in really every location. And he's not afraid to give you bad news. If you buy a horse that's not good, he'll tell you. Doesn't matter what you paid. He gives it to you straight and he tries to put them in good places.”

Cox had been training for a decade when he won his first graded stakes on June 28, 2014, with Carve in Gr.3 Cornhusker. The ascent since then has been breathtaking, the past three years particularly stunning

After winning 151 races in 2016, Cox's horses have won more than 200 races every year. Through Sunday, the stable had won 1,481 races and more than $78 million in purses of which horses trained by Cox, earned more than $18.9m and won 216 races in 2020 alone. The Kentucky native won four Breeders’ Cup contests – with Aunt Pearl, Knicks Go, Essential Quality and Monomoy Girl – plus a Kentucky Oaks with Shedaresthedevil.

“He’s a very nice horse. He is blessed with speed and can carry it,” said the conditioner, “His run in the Pegasus and the Breeders’ Cup have been his best races so far.”

Knicks is actually pronounced “K-Nicks” by the horses’ owners. The K is for Korea and Nicks is for the bloodstock word that refers to picking out bloodlines that will match sire and dam.

Knicks Go was originally a US$40,000 weanling purchase at Keenland in 2016, bought by Northface Bloodstock. He was then sold the next year at the Keeneland September sale for US$87,000 to the KRA.

His sire, Paynter, a son of the late Awesome Again, the richest Canadian-bred in history and the mare, Kosmo’s Buddy, a stakes winner of US$298,000 including Maryland  Million Turf Sprint had just two winners from her first three foals to race.

Sent to trainer Ben Colebrook he went out and won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity as a 2YO at Keeneland followed by ten starts with only two second-place finishes.

After he was transferred to Cox, won an allowance race at Oaklawn last February before injuring an ankle. He then came back in October and won an allowance race before his track record-setting Breeders’ Cup romp.

Cox has previously suggested that an aggressive training regime has led to the improvement in Knicks Go.

“He is one of the top handicap horses in the country now. He’s a top horse. This is what you get up for every day, seven days a week, long days for moments like this,” Cox said, “In September 2019, Jun Park contacted me about taking on a horse. It worked really well. I have had some other horses for KRA and hopefully, the relationship continues on.”

Dual Breeders' Cup Distaff winner-Monomoy Girl is Cox’s favourite for many reasons, “She gave us our first Grade One win and is now up to seven Grade Ones. She put us on the international map.”

Cox is no stranger to Thoroughbred auctions. “I inspect horses like many closely working with some bloodstock agents. We buy horses based on the needs and wants of our clients. I attend major 2YO and YearlingThoroughbred sales in America.” 

The man who is an inspiration to many feels inspired by his close family. 

“I want to do well for them. I have three sons and we need to show them that hard work pays off.”