John Oxx takes up new role as Staffordstown succession plans revealed

Julian Lloyd, long-term manager of Kirsten Rausing’s Staffordstown yearling operation, has announced his retirement at the end of the year, with his role set to be divided between John Oxx as director and Paddy Moloney as manager.

Lloyd, who has spent 30 years at Staffordstown, will pass the baton on to hugely experienced hands in Oxx, famed for his handling of Sea The Stars and Sinndar among many other stars in a stellar training career, and Moloney, previously the farm's stud groom.

Lloyd said: “After 30 years at Staffordstown, with my 75th birthday on the horizon, it's time for my work here to come to a close and for me to change gear for the last couple of furlongs of my allotted span.

"I've been friends with Kirsten since we first met in 1976 as enthusiastic youngsters with Captain Tim and Sonia Rogers at Airlie Stud, where we both swept the same yards. When Kirsten started this farm in 1991, Paddy Moloney and myself were the first two through the gate and we are still here today. Staffordstown has been a happy family home and place of work."

Lloyd has overseen the breaking in of a number of Rausing's star performers, namely the influential Alouette and her descendants, including dual German Group 1 winner and yesterday's Preis von Europa scorer Alpinista plus the stakes-winning Albaflora, who was a fine second to Snowfall in the Yorkshire Oaks.

He added: "It will be a wrench to leave this wonderful farm, now 475 acres of County Meath’s best old permanent pasture. There has been a steady stream of good horses through Staffordstown since 1991. The Darshaan filly Alouette, subsequently a Listed winner and Group 1-placed for Jim Bolger, was the first to arrive.

Alpinista: one of many top-class performers to pass through StaffordstownCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"She was later elected TBA Broodmare of the Year and now, this year alone, her third and fourth generation descendants Alpinista and Albaflora have shown top notch Group 1 form among the 13 black-type winners and placed runners from Staffordstown to date this season."

He continued: "Under Kirsten’s beady eye I have no doubt that Staffordstown will continue to rear strong and useful horses from her wonderful band of broodmares. I have never met a better horseman than Paddy Moloney. He knows every inch of the farm and is the right man for the job to succeed me on site.

"The added input of John Oxx will indubitably be a great asset. There is no better-respected or liked man in the business. Paddy and John are fortunate in that they will be working with our long-established family of staff, virtually all of whom have been here for between ten and 25 years.”

Rausing added: “I'm immensely grateful to Julian for all his marvellously dedicated work at Staffordstown for three decades. We have remained friends and colleagues through times good and bad, and seen some good animals through their weanling to yearling process at Staffordstown. In fact the winners of over 1,800 races have been produced during our 30 years of operating the farm.

"Julian leaves Staffordstown in the best of hands with Paddy Moloney and his team. I take this opportunity to warmly welcome John Oxx, trainer of 35 Group 1 winners including Sea The Stars and a former chairman of the Irish National Stud, to the Staffordstown team."

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