Eric Ropiha, a decorated New Zealand horseman who trained the 1960 Caulfield Cup winner Ilumquh, has died. He was 88.

Ilumquh's Caulfield Cup victory was among the 716 winners Ropiha trained from 1948 until his retirement in 2001.

As well as his Caulfield Cup win, Ilumquh was twice placed in the Melbourne Cup in 1960 and 1963.

Fans, another stayer trained by Ropiha, finished third to Rain Lover in the 1968 Melbourne Cup.

Ilumquh and Fans gave Ropiha recognition in Australia after he made a name for himself in his homeland, winning the New Zealand trainers' premiership in 1959-1960.

Ropiha was honoured with an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1996 and he enjoyed a long association with the Fell family's Fairdale Stud.

He trained for the upper echelon of New Zealand racing, including two governor-generals.