John Oxx
John Oxx | |
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Occupation | 2,000 Guineas (1) (2)Epsom Derby Irish Classic Race wins: Sea The Stars |
John M. Oxx (born 14 July 1950) is a retired Irish
Oxx has been widely praised for the care and undemonstrative authority with which he approaches the training and racing of his horses.[2] [3] He is particularly known for being highly selective when choosing when and where his horses will run.[4][5][6]
Family background, education and early training
John Oxx is the son of John Oxx Sr., who was himself a successful trainer, winning eight Irish classic races. In 1950 Oxx's father purchased Currabeg, at the southwestern end of the
Career as a trainer
First successes
Oxx's first Classic win came with
Association with the Aga Khan
The Aga Khan began to support Oxx's yard with a number of yearlings after Eurobird's win in 1987.[7] When he decided to withdraw his racehorses from England following Aliysa's disqualification in The Oaks of 1989,[9] he established a significant presence in Oxx's yard.[10] Without a budget of his own to spend on yearlings, Oxx continued to be reliant on horses bred by owners with whom he had an association. In some years, he conceded, "you wouldn't have anything remotely near Group One standard".[6]
Many of Oxx's major race wins have come from Aga Khan-owned horses, beginning with Manntari's victory in the
The partnership also had successes with
Sea The Stars
Oxx came to wider public attention when guiding
In an interview with The Observer, Oxx said of Sea The Stars: "I was always reading about racing and great horses of the past. So when you grow up with the history of racing and the history of breeding, the landmark horses that come along over a century, and more – to train one that's in that league gives you the greatest satisfaction."[18]
Official positions
Oxx served as chairman of the Irish National Stud from 1985 to 1990; he was chairman of the Irish Racehorse Trainers' Association from 1986 to 1991 and from 1993 to 1996; he has served on numerous other racing bodies and is chairman of the Racing Academy and Centre of Education. In 2008 he was given the Irish Racehorse Trainers' Association Hall of Fame award.[19]
Personal life
Oxx married Caitriona O'Sullivan in 1974.[1] They have three children.
Major wins
- Irish 1,000 Guineas – (1) – Ridgewood Pearl (1995)
- Irish Champion Stakes – (3) – Timarida (1996), Azamour (2004), Sea the Stars (2009)
- Irish Derby – (2) – Sinndar (2000), Alamshar (2003)
- Irish Oaks – (2) – Ebadiyla (1997), Winona (1998)
- (2006), Alandi (2009)
- Matron Stakes – (2) – Chanzi (1993), Timarida (1995)
- Moyglare Stud Stakes – (2) – Flamenco Wave (1988), Edabiya (1998)
- National Stakes– (2) – Manntari (1993), Sinndar (1999)
- Pretty Polly Stakes – (1) – Takarouna (1993)
- Tattersalls Gold Cup -(1) – George Augustus (1995)
- E.P. Taylor Stakes – (1) – Timarida(1995)
- 2,000 Guineas– (1) – Sea the Stars (2009)
- Enzeli(1999)
- Coronation Stakes – (1) – Ridgewood Pearl (1995)
- Derby – (2) – Sinndar (2000), Sea the Stars (2009)
- Eclipse Stakes – (1) – Sea the Stars (2009)
- International Stakes – (1) – Sea the Stars (2009)
- King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – (2) – Alamshar (2003), Azamour (2005)
- Prince of Wales's Stakes – (1) – Azamour (2005)
- St. James's Palace Stakes– (1) – Azamour (2004)
- Yorkshire Oaks - (1) - Key Change (1996)
- Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – (2) – Sinndar (2000), Sea the Stars (2009)
- Prix du Cadran – (1) – Alandi (2009)
- Prix du Moulin de Longchamp – (1) – Ridgewood Pearl (1995)
- Prix de l'Opéra – (1) – Timarida (1995)
- Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp - (1) – Namid (2000)
- Prix Royal-Oak - (1) - Ebadiyla (1997)
- Bayerisches Zuchtrennen – (1) – Timarida (1996)
- Beverly D. Stakes – (1) – Timarida (1996)
- Breeders' Cup Mile – (1) – Ridgewood Pearl (1995)
References
- ^ a b c Holland, Anne. Sea The Stars: The World's Best Racehorse, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson (2009), p.48
- ^ a b McGrath, Chris. "The greatest horse of all time?", The Independent, 3 October 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ^ Oakley, Robin. "Derby hopeful", The Spectator, 9 May 2009. Link to the article on Infotrac Periodicals Database (login required). Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ a b c d "John Oxx", Horse Racing Ireland, October 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- The Racing Post, 11 April 2007. Link to the article on The Free Library.Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ a b c Cook, Chris. "John Oxx targets his latest English Classic win with Born to Sea", The Observer, 28 April 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
- ^ a b Holland, Anne. Sea The Stars: The World's Best Racehorse, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson (2009), pp.48–9
- ^ The Racing Post, 14 July 2010. Link to the article on The Free Library.Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- New York Times, 16 January 1991. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ^ Sweeney, Tony. "European Derby Successes", Aga Khan Studs, 2003. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ^ a b Holland, Anne. Sea The Stars: The World's Best Racehorse, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson (2009), p.49
- ^ Edmondson, Richard. "Brilliant Sinndar joins the Arc angels", The Independent, 2 October 2000. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ Montgomery, Sue. "Sinndar has the valuable virtues", The Independent, 1 October 2000. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ "Oxx calls time as Sea The Stars retired", The Irish Times, 13 October 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ McClean, Donn. "Running into history", The Sunday Times, 18 October 2009. Link to the article on the InfoTrac National Newspapers Database (login required). Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- The Racing Post, 5 September 2009. Link to the article on The Free Library.Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ Muscat, Julian. "Sea The Stars bows out on glorious high", The Times, 14 October 2009. Link to the article on the InfoTrac National Newspapers Database (login required). Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ Hayward, Paul."Sea The Stars, wonder horse and Irish miracle worker", The Observer, 20 September 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ Holland, Anne. Sea The Stars: The World's Best Racehorse, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson (2009), p.54
Further reading
- Holland, Anne. Sea The Stars: The World's Best Racehorse, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson (2009).
- Magee, Sean. Sea The Stars: The Story of a Perfect Racehorse, Racing Post Books (2009).
External links
Racing Post details for Oxx's multiple Group One-winning horses
- Ridgewood Pearl (Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes, Prix Du Moulin and Breeders Cup Mile Turf, 1995)
- Timarida (Matron Stakes, Prix De L’Opera, EP Taylor Stakes, Bayerisches Zuchtrennen, Beverly D. Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes, 1995 & 1996)
- Sinndar (National Stakes, Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, 1999 & 2000)
- Alamshar (Irish Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Stakes, 2003)
- Azamour (St James Palace Stakes, Irish Champion Stakes, Prince of Wales Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Stakes, 2004 & 2005)
- Sea The Stars (English 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, Eclipse Stakes, International Stakes, Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, 2009)
- Alandi (Irish St Leger and Prix du Cadran, 2009)