O'Brien and Heffernan double up as Oxx saddles final runners

Aidan O'Brien and Seamie Heffernan brought up a quick-fire double in the Curragh when another newcomer, Arturo Toscanini obliged in the juvenile colts and gelding maiden.

John Oxx saddled the last three horses of his long, illustrious and glittering training career and Earlswood ran a stormer in third in his attempt to give the legendary trainer the perfect send-off.

Arturo Toscanini came off the bridle in fifth racing to the final quarter of a mile and was ridden to close on Emporio at the furlong pole.

The Galileo colt stuck to his task well and came home best to collar Emporio in the closing stages.

The 9/1 shot was half a length clear at the line from the 11/2 runner-up. Earlswood (14/1) ran on for third, a neck behind Emporio.

“He's a grand, straightforward horse. I felt I was going to win from two down and I won well at the line,” said Heffernan.

“His dam (Snow Queen) was very talented and we never saw what she could do. This fella has a little bit of toe and a good attitude. I felt I was always going to win.”

John Oxx said: "It's a big day. It has been coming for a while. You have to stop somewhere, someday. We are happy that it is at our local track.

"We nearly went out on a winner but I'm happy with my few runners there. They all ran well and showed a bit of promise for the future.

“The horse that won yesterday (Storm Legend) is going to Fozzy Stack and he'll have a bit of fun with him. He could go for a Guineas trial.

"It's an emotional day for ourselves and the staff, people like Jimmy (O'Neill) who has worked for me for 47 years since he left school. It's a long time and he never worked for anybody else. He came up today to give mea hand saddling.

"Tony Shanahan, my original head man, was with us since the early 60s until he retired a few years ago. The late Jack O'Shea worked nearly all his life with us as well. We've been lucky we have had exceptional staff and you need that. Part of any success you have is down to the staff you have and we were fortunate to always have plenty of good people working for us.

"Every win has its own little story and all the people who are behind the horses. I always say racing is as much about people as it is about horses. The people are interesting that own them and they all have a story. I had a good mentor in my father and he had Classic winners himself.

"When it's your day it's your day - twice I won the Arc I also won another Group One on the day. When it's not your day you win nothing!"

And on Sea The Stars, he said: "We were blessed to have had him. I could never have any complaint in my life when I trained him. It was just the biggest privilege you could have as a trainer and the biggest dream come true that you could have.

"A great horse and the highest rated Irish horse ever. We were very proud to have had him and lucky to have had him. He was a phenomenal individual and a phenomenal physical specimen and had a tremendous mental attitude and mental strength. All the great horses, what separates them from the rest is their temperament and their mental constitution.

"He loved racing, he was enthusiastic about it right up to the end. He was better than ever on Arc day. He was a great horse and he had this destiny. We knew he was the best around and one of the greats but he had to win all the races, every single one of them, to really prove it.

"We are happy to retire and we are looking forward to it. We are not down and out about it at all. We are really looking forward to it.

“I'll still go racing as I'd miss the people and the chatting. That's really what it's all about, the communication with people. I'd miss that if I became a recluse.

“I'll be doing a few bits for people although I won't be over busy. I'll be busy enough I hope.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson