Episode 388: Mick Robins

With the Melbourne Cup only a month away the familiar trivia questions are starting to pop up in the pubs and clubs. One popular question is the one about the oldest person still living who has trained a Melbourne Cup winner. The answer of course is Mick Robins who won it twice with the great stayer Rain Lover in 1968 and 69. I’ve actually had a couple of recent emails requesting a podcast with the veteran trainer. The fact is I recorded an interview with Mick two and a half years ago, and he was a delight to talk to. Tell you what, why don’t we run it again at this special time of year. He begins by talking about his stint as an apprentice butcher in war time Broken Hill. Mick looks back on his days below the surface of the earth helping to mine the silver, zinc and lead that would bring great prosperity to Broken Hill. He talks of his early attraction to horses and a brief career as an amateur jockey. Mick remembers gaining his first trainer’s licence and a horse called Sir Haydon who got him up and running. The veteran recalls his move to Adelaide in the early 60’s and his dream job with champion trainer Graham Heagney. He spent eight years with Heagney who trained the champion Tobin Bronze at the time. Mick reminisces about the lucky break that would change his life. When Graham Heagney decided to train in the USA Mick inherited 14 of his horses. One of them was Rain Lover. The former trainer takes us through those two magical Melbourne Cup wins and shares some great stories from the era. Mick acknowledges some other grand gallopers he got to train. He talks of his late wife Valda whose long term illness saw them move to the warmer climate in WA. Mick pays tribute to his great mate, the late Jim Johnson who rode Rain Lover in those memorable Cup wins. The great horseman turned 92 a couple of  months ago. He may have slowed down a little but he’s still very mobile, and amenable to a chat about his golden days on the turf. If you missed this podcast last time, here’s your opportunity to take a trip down memory lane with a man whose name is associated with a special feat in Melbourne Cup history.