PRESIDENTS AND PMS

Q You became a good friend of Bob Hawke during his term as prime minister and tipped him into some winners. That’s a remarkable fact but how did that come about?

A I met him at a racing luncheon and he asked if he could call me that Saturday for a tip. He must have liked it because he never dropped off. I’d hear from him every Wednesday and Saturday for four or five years. I got a call from him in the highlands of Papua New Guinea once. He also called my mother on her 80th birthday.

Q He wasn’t the only national leader you have come across. Weren’t you were briefly in the possession of former US President George Bush’s suit a couple of years ago?

A My wife and I were a cruise and got upgraded to one of two suites on the boat. We sentt our clothes to be pressed for a dinner and they came back with the wrong suit and dress. s. Turns out it was George and his wife’s outfits. We got ot some photos taken with them hem and the security around d them was enormous.

Q Perhaps your most memorable chat t was a with an idol of yours and many, former West Indies cricketer Sirr Garfield Sobers?

A Around 1999 I was fielding at the races aces in Brisbane and he was s wondering if he could get et a tip. As luck happened all four tips won. He came e back, shook my hand andd said in his style, “Man oh man, do I really want to know you.”