Remembering Rex Cochrane, a gentleman and astute trainer

"I spent eight years under his guidance. He treated us [staff] all like family ... a lovely lovely man."

Rex Cochrane.

• Jamie Searle is a long-time Southland racing writer. For more of his work checkout the Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page.

Former top jockey Jim Collett says the opportunities he gained from Rex Cochrane were a huge help to his riding career.

Collett is among many in the New Zealand racing industry to pay tribute to Cochrane who died in Ashburton on Saturday. He was 93.

Cochrane was a Gore trainer from the 1955-56 season to when he retired in 1994.

"I got a big kick-start to my [riding] career from Rex," Collett, now a Waikato trainer, said.

"I was very fortunate to get the opportunities I did. 

"I spent eight years under his guidance. He treated us [staff] all like family ... a lovely lovely man."

Three of the best: Rex Cochrane, middle, with retired jockey Bob Skelton, left, and trainer Brian Anderton at an Omakau race meeting in 2014. All three are in the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. Photo: Tayler Strong

Collett had a lot of success riding for Cochrane and continued to boot home winners at all levels when moving to the North Island. He also had big overseas wins.    

Collett will never forget riding the Cochrane-trained Palimony to win at Waimate in July 1980. The win made Cochrane the first to reach 1000 training wins in New Zealand.

"It was a highlight for me to ride his 1000th winner ... it's something I'll always remember," Collett said.

In 1994 Cochrane retired from training with 1486 wins. He won the NZ trainers' premiership three times in 1969-70, 1970-71, 1971-72.

He was inducted into the NZ Racing Hall of Fame in 2014.

Ocean Guard, ridden by Darrin Skerrett, won 23 races for Rex Cochrane.

Cochrane trained top performers Cogitation (Grand National Steeples and Hurdles, Riverton Cup) and Ocean Guard (Riverton Cup, Grand National Hurdles and Great Western Steeplechase). Other important wins for Cochrane included success with Enceeoh, Court Belle, Yipp's Secret, Sheikle, Game Call and Connie Lawn.

As well as Jim Collett, other riders to work for Cochrane included Paul Richards, Steve Allen, Gary Gibson, Tony Robb, John Phillips, Roland Saxton, Darrin Skerrett, and Terry Brown.

Allen said: "Rex was a good boss to us all. He could prepare a horse real good. He knew when a horse was going to win and when it was only half ready."

Phillips' 10 years working for Cochrane included race riding and being stable foreman.

"He was an astute trainer, a good stockman and knew how to get a horse fit," Phillips said of Cochrane.

Skerrett said: "Rex was a gentleman. With his apprentices and jockeys he was always fair with [race] rides. Basically, all I know I learned from him."