The Takanini-based trainer affectionately known as much to his friends as the racing public as "Jillo" handed in his trainers licence in 2004. He had held that licence for an amazing 54 years.

Regarded as a master trainer of stayers, he trained 1327 winners in total, 703 of those in partnership with fellow trainer Richard Yuill.

Often referred to as "racing’s gentleman trainer" and respected and admired by his peers, Jillings was renowned for his ability to set a horse for a race after mapping out the target a long way out.

Saddling his first winner, Lawful, while still aged in his 20s, to win the Great Northern Derby in 1958, Jillings was to go on and win a Derby in each subsequent decade up to his retirement.

As well as training five New Zealand Derby winners, he trained three New Zealand Oaks winners, won four Auckland Cups, a Wellington Cup and two New Zealand Cups.

His versatility as a trainer was also demonstrated in jumps racing where he trained the winners of three Great Northern Steeples and two Great Northern Hurdles.

Associated with many memorable horses, some of his best performers included Uncle Remus, McGinty and The Phantom Chance, who won the WS Cox Plate from the Jillings/Yuill stable as well as the New Zealand Derby.