Known as the "Bernborough of the Bush", Precious Robe was owned and trained by Bill Lotton in the late 1960s to early 1970s. I recall that Mr Lotton would train him in the hills around Briagalong mustering cattle.

My late brother, John Davis, then Gippsland's top jockey riding for the strong stable of Lou Battista at Traralgon, became Precious Robe's rider in late 1969 when his regular jockey, Geoff Purbrick, was killed in a car accident near Drouin in Gippsland on the way back from the races.

My brother John rode Precious Robe in most of his later wins and several cups including, I think, a Sale Cup.

I was at Flemington in January 1970 when John rode Precious Robe to a big win as hot favourite in the Provincial Plate. When the field entered the long Flemington straight, the crowd was booing as , Precious Robe, hot favourite at 5 to 1 on, was running last.

My brother described Precious Robe as having a "big motor" and when he gave it a whack with the whip, it took off zigzagging his way through the field as if they were standing still and won by about 5 lengths. Halfway up the straight, the booing changed to hysterical cheers. The crowd gave horse and rider a huge reception as he returned to scale.

After this fast finishing win at Flemington, the media called Precious Robe "Bernborough of the Bush" and talked about a run in the Melbourne Cup. However Precious robe was nearing the end of his career and never ran in a Melbourne Cup.

Precious Robe retired back to the farm at Briagolong in the mid 1970s and is probably buried there. Jockey, John Davis died, aged 44 years, at Gladstone Qld in January1992 after a short illness.

Roy Davis
21 April 2006