Irish trainer John Oxx to retire at end of season

Longtime Irish trainer John Oxx will retire at the end of the current racing season.

Racing Post reports that the 70-year-old Oxx, perhaps best known for training the great Sea the Stars, said the time was right and that he had been considering retirement for a few years.

During his 41-year career, Oxx won 33 Group 1 races, according to the report.

Sea the Stars was undefeated as a 3-year-old in 2009, winning the G1 Two Thousand Guineas, Epsom Derby, Eclipse, Juddmont International, Irish Champion and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Oxx also won the Irish Derby, the Epsom Derby and the Arc with Sinndar in 2000.

In the U.S., he won the Breeders' Cup Mile in 1995 with Ridgewood Pearl, and his Azamour came in third in the Breeders' Cup Turf in 2005.

Racing Post quoted Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, as saying: "John has been a wonderful ambassador for our industry and our country. Always a gentleman to deal with and generous with his time and knowledge. Truly the end of an era."