Both of the local horsemen celebrate birthdays this week -McIlwrick turned 25 yesterday, while Denton turned 65 today.
''That's when the Government start paying me,'' Denton quipped.
Of the pair, it is Denton who could possibly outshadow McIlwrick in the birthday stakes.
The Mosgiel trainer will accomplish an astonishing feat should he be able to rein home his charge, Och Aye The Noo in race 7, the Happy Birthday Martin Denton Handicap Trot.
With a race win, Denton would go down in the official results as the race's winning owner, driver, trainer, breeder as well as being the race's naming sponsor.
It is a five-peat that could top his 2010 effort of driving, training, breeding and owning Mum Beat Lyall when she trotted to victory, also at Forbury Park.
That occasion provided Denton's only race victory in the sulky.
McIlwrick, who helps Denton train his team of horses at Mosgiel, is eager to see his fellow horseman achieve the remarkable feat, he said.
The junior driver not only helps prepare Och Aye The Noo, who is also raced by Brian Cookson, Jimmy Vaughan and Keith Gilmore, but he hands the reins to Denton after steering the horse in all of her recent starts.
His lighthearted advice was to give it absolutely everything you've got.
''Let the handlebars down, don't look back and hand [the lead] to no-one.''
Denton saw the humourous side of that and a possible bonus those tactics could deliver.
''If we can get the front the first round I will get a decent old cheer, anyway.'' he joked.
As remarkable as his race 7 achievement could be, Denton looks most likely to grab a birthday week win with a horse he will watch from the grandstands.
The trainer and McIlwrick combine with Clifton Tactic, who lines up in race 9 which is a junior drivers' contest.
The Washington VC mare takes on an even field McIlwrick thinks is a notch down on class from her recent races. Those contests have include her last-start fourth on Northern Southland Cup day and her third at Wyndham behind The High Roller prior to that.
''Its a nice race for her. The field is definitely a wee bit easier.
''If she stepped like she did the other day, she will definitely be tough to beat.''
The other day was on Sunday at the Forbury Park workouts.
''She went to the workouts on Sunday and stepped nicely, but that was only a three-horse field.
Although stablemate Stunnin VC does not have the same form Cilfton Tactic has, she does look equally well placed in race 6 tonight.
''It is a nice even wee field. With this rating system it is like against like.''
The 4yr-old galloped over the Wingatui track crossing in her most recent start, but before that was fifth behind the classy Bakari.
''She has definitely got a chance.''
McIlwrick and Denton part ways in race 3. Denton lines up Bourbon and Dry with Matthew Williamson aboard while McIlwrick steers Belmont Invasion for trainer Owen Lawrence.
McIlwrick looks to have the stronger chance of the pair on paper, but he will be relying on his charge to bring his best attitude.
''I do have a soft spot for Belmont Invasion.
'' It does go quite good when it wants to.''
''If it is firing on all cylinders it will be tough to beat in that field.''
The junior driver also drives Special Pat in tonight's opener, a horse he describes as a work in progress.
McIlwrick also treks to Invercargill on Sunday when he rates his trotting drives his best chances of his eight steers on the programme.
Five-race winner Overcast looks well placed in race 3, sharing her 10m backmark with two horses who have won only one race each.
The driver is expecting a better result with Golden Gate in race 10, again related to her fellow backmakers.
McIlwrick expects having two other horses with her at the 40m tapes will help the trotter get into the race.
-By Jonny Turner
