Can’t blame Alan King for hedging when interviewed immediately post race- he’s not the owner so he can’t declare the horse retired and it wouldn’t have been fair to expect him to voice a strong opinion before he’s had a chance to talk to the owner.
I do think it’s a bit mean of interviewers to march up to winning connections of an older horse and say , pretty much: “Well done, but anyway now that’s over, you’re going retire him on the spot, right?”
Let them enjoy their moment.