Rains hoping to shine in Indigenous Caffyn Plate

Bendigo horseman Scott Rains was looking forward to catching up with his brother Sean at Melbourne’s huge Cox Plate gallops meeting this weekend – but instead he’ll be interstate and in the harness racing spotlight.

Rains is one of 10 invited Indigenous drivers to compete in the $20,400 Kari JC Caffyn Plate at Club Menangle, a race named in honour of Jimmy Caffyn Snr, an Indigenous trainer driver who won 11 Harold Park premierships in the 1950 and ’60s.

“I’m pretty excited. It will be a big thrill and win, lose or draw, I’m just rapt to be part of it,” Rains said.

“It’s a great initiative to give people like me an opportunity and I’d love to see more of them – I don’t know any of the other drivers, apart from Lleyton Green, so it’ll be nice to meet everyone and catch up for a bit of a yarn.”

Rains said his brother Sean has enjoyed a good season with a small team of gallopers in WA, and they had booked accommodation packages to attend the gallops at Moonee Valley for Cox Plate Day “a good while ago”.

“When I raced up at Menangle with Angus Indiana back in June I was more or less joking with the Racing Manager David Wonson, about getting an invite to the Caffyn Plate!” he said.

“Selection was done on a points system relating to every drive and I didn’t really think I’d make it, although I did notice I was ranked about number eight a month or so ago.  But when I got an email to say I was driving, it was a huge surprise.

“Sean and the others are excited for us, but I think they’ll have a good time at the Cox Plate meeting without us!”

Rains, who has driven 48 winners, will be joined by another Victorian Rory Coverdale, along with a list of NSW-based Indigenous reinsmen and women.

A proud descendent of the Kalkadoon people, Rains grew up in Brisbane.

“The Kalkadoon are my dad’s side of the family, from around Mount Isa. It’s really a desert area, but I’ve spent a lot of time on Country and getting out to some of the sites with my uncles,” he said.

“I raced a horse in Kalkadoon Warrior (Pet Rock) a few years ago and he won a race and now I’ve got another one called Kalkadoon Dreaming (Betting Line).”

The Indigenous Drivers race, a penalty-free event, is race 2 on the Menangle card, and Rains said he was also looking forward to enjoying the excitement of big NSW Breeders Challenge finals night to follow, with no fewer than four Group 1 and two Group 3 features to be decided.

“The club has put us all in the Miracle Mile marquee for the night, so that’s where I’ll be after I drive then have a shower. Ebony is so excited because she normally works on weekends and it’ll be a great night,” he said.

“I’ve never driven at Menangle before so it’s pretty exciting. I’ve drawn out in 10, but the horse I’m driving in Jordy (Bettors Delight) has gone well since coming out from NZ. He’s trained by Kevin Pizzuto and hopefully I get a bit of luck.

“These days I’m very much a hobbyist and don’t do outside drives. While I enjoy the driving part, I’m not trying to make a career out of it. I use young Sean O’Sullivan – the youngsters are our future so we all should be giving them a go.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink