PRAISE has never sat easily on the shoulders of John Oxx. Trainer of the winners of 36 Group 1 races, four Cartier award winners and two of them Horse of the Year title holders, he is as modest an individual as it is possible to meet.

Today he faces into retirement from the training ranks with the best wishes of everyone involved in racing ringing in his ears, and the tributes to him have been unequivocally positive and warm. The most oft repeated word among the many tributes is that he is a gentleman.