3 minute read

Danny Scanlan qualified for today’s KARI J.C. Caffyn Indigenous Drivers Plate final by the barest possible margin, .1 of a point, after a competitive series of races all around the state.

But there was no such tiny margin in today's feature as lightly-raced gelding Ziggy Rocks put paid to a quality field to take the race . . . and etch Scanlan's name into the history books.

It was an emotional Scanlan that took to the podium to thanks "his girls" and a small army of supporters after Ziggy Rocks came with a withering burst to beat My Major Rocket (Hayden Green) and Mach Le More (Jinaya Niass) by 5.5m in a 1:55.6 mile rate (last half in 56.5s).

"It's been a long, long time since I last won a race here at Menangle," said Scanlan.

"Of course it hasn't been helped when I've contested this series and most of the horses have been 100-1 in past years.

"This horse, trained by Gemma Rue and owned by Menangle committeeman Dan Cordina, is probably the best horse I have been able to steer in the half a dozen times I've competed in this series.

"It sure helps, I can tell you."

Scanlan did drive the son of Pet Rock to perfection, landing an ideal one-one trail before peeling wide on the home turn and quickly rounding up his rivals for a strong win.

It was a deserved victory for one of the men who has become a mainstay of this Indigenous Drivers series.

Scanlan contested heats at Albury, Young and even Tamworth, meaning he covered many kilometres from his Cessnock base just to qualify for the final day.

In the end, the .1 of as point didn't matter as he added his name to some quality horsemen and women who have won this series since it was first inaugurated in 2011.

"It's a pretty special race to win and we all want to win it," said Scanlan.

"It's taken me a while, which makes this win even more special."