AS Cessnock driver Danny Scanlan celebrated an emotional win in Sunday's J.C. Caffyn Indigenous Drivers Plate Final (1,609 metres) at Menangle Park, he had plenty of people to thank.
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They included Bathurst trainer Gemma Rue.
It was Rue's lightly-raced gelding Ziggy Rocks who Scanlan drove to victory in the feature, coming with a withering burst to beat My Major Rocket by 5.5m in a 1:55.6 mile rate.
"It's been a long, long time since I last won a race here at Menangle," Scanlan said after he added his name to those who have won this series since it was inaugurated in 2011.
"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."
