'I'm going to become a fairweather racegoer' - John Oxx bows out

It was entirely fitting John Oxx had the last runners of his illustrious 41-year training career at the Curragh on Monday – even if it was a wet, windy and thoroughly miserable meeting behind closed doors –and how close it was to a fairytale finish.

The master of Currabeg was triple-handed in the second race, a 7f maiden, and Earlswood and Niall McCullagh finished well to be beaten just three-quarters of a length into third place. It came a day after Oxx saddled his last winner when newcomer Storm Legend landed a two-year-old maiden at Naas under Chris Hayes.

"Sorry boss," said a rueful McCullagh, although he had nothing to be sorry about. Oxx, who was accompanied by his wife Catriona and his long-time travelling head lad Jimmy 'Slim' O'Neill, dealt with the defeat as phlegmatically as he has with all the great victories he has enjoyed over the years.

Oxx was champion trainer in 1995, a year crowned by the victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Belmont of Ridgewood Pearl, who was winning her fourth Group 1 that year in four different countries.

His brilliant handling of Sinndar in 2000 led to the Aga Khan colt becoming the first horse to win the Epsom and Irish Derbys as well as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the same year.

And then there was Sea The Stars in 2009, an all-time great and certainly the best horse to walk through the gates at the Currabeg yard. The son of Cape Cross created equine history by winning six consecutive Group 1s and becoming the only horse to complete the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Arc treble.

An hour and a half after Sea The Stars had triumphed in the Arc, Alandi became the last of Oxx's 37 Group 1 winners when he landed the Prix du Cadran.

Sea The Stars: flagbearer for John Oxx in a sparkling careerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Lamentably, following the withdrawal of some major owners, pickings subsequently become increasingly slim, culminating in Oxx's announcement last month of his impending retirement.

“I didn't train the winner lads!” he joked with the waiting press pack at the Curragh after Aidan O'Brien's Arturo Toscanini had denied Earlswood before confirming that the third, Curraghglass and Safecracker were indeed his last runners.

“They ran well. I thought Earlswood was coming to win but he just got a bit tired at the end, but he ran well. Indeed the three of them ran well and hopefully they are all horses that might make their names heard next year, as will Storm Legend who won at Naas. He has a nice attitude and temperament and I think he could be a decent horse for Fozzy Stack next year.”

Unfortunately none of these nice horses could persuade Oxx to postpone his retirement.

He said: “No, that die was already cast. We're looking forward to what's coming and we can watch other people get on with it for the next while. We've been very lucky, we had a great run over many years and have no complaints.

"I'm very happy with the way life turned out, but there comes a time when it's the right time to stop and it has been coming for a few years now. It has to be a viable business to continue and it was reaching the stage where that was no longer the case.”

“The more we thought about it the happier we were with the decision, there was no real point in going on.”

Sinndar (left) triumphs in the 2000 Derby under Johnny MurtaghCredit: Ed Byrne

But Oxx does not intend to just disappear. He said: “I'll still be going racing a bit. I would miss the people and seeing old friends, which is what it's really all about. I would miss that if I just became a recluse at home and just watched it on television. You need to meet people.”

He concluded: “I would like to thank all of the people who have sent messages. We have been a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing and we will try and get around to writing to people as best we can. I just want to thank all of the many supporters we have had. It has been our pleasure.”

“I'll be doing a few bits for people. I won't be too busy but I'll hopefully be busy enough. On a fine day you wouldn't have any excuse not to come up here to the Curragh, so that's what I'll be. A fair-weather racegoer!”

Read more on the legendary John Oxx

Sea The Stars: a horse of a lifetime who enjoyed the most perfect of seasons

Exploring Ireland’s great sporting plain in the company of John Oxx

John Oxx recalls how Orchestra gave him his first win as a trainer

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