Big week ahead for trainer in retirement

Tuesday is the 50th wedding anniversary for Colin Jillings and wife Alison. Picture / Dean Purcell

Auckland Cup Week is big for legendary horse trainer Colin Jillings.

Recently retired, he begins it today by competing in a singles bowls championship at Remuera Bowling Club, then heads to Ellerslie to catch what he can of the Derby Day races.

Tuesday is his 50th wedding anniversary, and he and wife Alison have booked a table for 11 of the family at the racecourse's Silks Restaurant for a celebration the following day - Auckland Cup Day.

Friday is the Auckland Trotting Cup, which Mr Jillings also plans to watch, before he ends the week with his 75th birthday and another day of racing at Ellerslie on March 11.

"It's all hot to trot," Mr Jillings joked yesterday.

Widely regarded as the country's greatest horse trainer, he took up bowls after retiring in September. But nothing would stop him getting to Ellerslie in time for the Mercedes Derby at 5.47pm.

"I'll be down there for the Derby, for sure," he said.

The $600,000 race is the country's richest for 3-year-olds and Mr Jillings holds the record for training the most Derby winners - Lawful, Stipulate, I'm Henry, Uncle Remus and The Phantom Chance.

The 2400m race has traditionally been held on Boxing Day but along with the Auckland Cup has been moved to March - a move Mr Jillings said had allowed a different field of horses to enter.

"It's given later maturing 3-year-olds a chance."

He said Wahid, who has won three of his last five starts, was the obvious favourite, but warned that the Derby was a long, tough race and Wahid's success was not guaranteed.

Mr Jillings had an eye on Black Panther, Abbey Drive and Gallions Reach, all trained by his protege Richard Yuill, but planned to bet small.

"Big punters always finish up broke," he laughed.