Michael speaks with author Robert Drewe, about his latest book ‘Nimblefoot’, the story of Johnny Day - Australia’s first international sports hero that no-one has heard of.

At 10-years-old the ‘mere child’ from Ballarat was a sensation.  Between the ages of nine and 12, Johnny was the star of 19th-century athletic competition ‘Pedestrianism’ and won the equivalent of eight million dollars, beating adult sportsmen around the world.

At 14 Johnny triumphed again as a jockey, winning the Melbourne Cup on a horse named Nimblefoot.  Then he disappeared without a trace.

In his novel ‘Nimblefoot’ Robert Drewe, one of Australia’s finest writers, tries to imagine what happened next…

Nimblefoot (Penguin/Hamish Hamilton) is out now.

Michael speaks with author Robert Drewe, about his latest book ‘Nimblefoot’, the story of Johnny Day - Australia’s first international sports hero that no-one has heard of. At 10-years-old the ‘mere child’ from Ballarat was a sensation.  Between the ages of nine and 12, Johnny was the star of 19th-century athletic competition ‘Pedestrianism’ and won the equivalent of eight million dollars, beating adult sportsmen around the world. At 14 Johnny triumphed again as a jockey, winning the Melbourne Cup on a horse named Nimblefoot.  Then he disappeared without a trace. In his novel ‘Nimblefoot’ Robert Drewe, one of Australia’s finest writers, tries to imagine what happened next…
Nimblefoot (Penguin/Hamish Hamilton) is out now.

Australia Overnight with Mike Jeffreys, 12am – 4am weekdays.

Wake Up Australia, 4am - 9:30am weekdays.

Australia Overnight with Mike Jeffreys, 12am – 4am weekdays.
Wake Up Australia, 4am - 9:30am weekdays.

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