Racing: Unfinished business left for Jillings

Colin Jillings has not retired himself from training Cheval De Troy just yet.

"There is unfinished business to do," said Cheval De Troy's senior syndicate partner Peter Walker at Ellerslie races on Saturday.

Jillings has declared he will officially retire preparing a big team late next month after nearly 60 years as one of New Zealand's finest trainers.

But beyond that he will take Cheval De Troy to Sydney for an autumn campaign.

According to Walker, Cheval De Troy will be aimed at the big three - the Canterbury Guineas, Rosehill Guineas and the AJC Derby.

"After that the horse will be transferred to an Australian trainer," said Walker.

"He won't be returning to New Zealand."

Cheval De Troy started one of the hottest $500,000 New Zealand Derby favourites in a couple of decades at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

He looked a big threat when he took the lead early in the home straight, but could not sprint from that stage and was pushed back to finish just behind the dividend payers.

Jumps jockey Michelle Hopkins is officially retired and says this time she means it.

Hopkins retired at the end of the jumps season, but fulfilled her promise to ride Waikato jumper Crescent in the two hurdle races at the Auckland Cup carnival and hopefully land an invitation to the world's richest jumping race, the Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan in April.

Disaster struck. Crescent botched the first fence on Boxing Day, put a front foot through the reins and that was day one.

On Saturday he landed awkwardly at the third fence, broke a leg and had to be put down.

"What a horrible way to end things," said Hopkins.