Its a hat-trick for Royce Gregory-Jack

Royce Gregory-Jack looks more like a bushman than a party crasher. Still the bearded Albury harness racing reinsman crashed a party, of sorts, at Tabcorp Park @ Club Menangle today when he made history in the J. C. Caffyn Indigenous Drivers' Plate.

The 29-year-old reinsman scored his third win in this elite invitation race, which in itself is amazing considering the race has only been run six times.

But the only two women who qualified for the race, defending champion Jess Prior and Bathurst's McKayler Barnes had declared their intentions to "beat the boys" and run the quinella in the 2016 race.

That looked a super chance of happening about 100m from home: Barnes was in front and Prior was finishing fast out wide. But it was instead Gregory-Jack who brought the well-backed Rave Moonraker from the Mark Callaghan stable with a perfectly-timed run to score a one-and-a-half-metre win in a 1:52.6 mile rate.

Prior finished second after coming from near last with Heza Swinger, while Barnes, who had attempted to lead all the way, hung on for third, a head further back.

In truth the girls, like their male counterparts, were delighted just to be involved with a series that continues to grow each year and has proven the perfect tribute to one of Menangle's legends, the late, great Jim Caffyn.

"I'm very happy with that result," said Gregory-Jack.

"This concept has been so well received and to win anything three times is pretty special really, let alone a race like this with so many great drivers in it.

"The first time I won was pretty satisfying as the concept was new and to win it twice had not been done before.

"Now this is very humbling."

Gregory-Jack works for Australia Post in Albury but thought nothing of a five-hour drive to get to Menangle to be involved this year.

"When I saw I had drawn Rave Moonraker I studied the form. Actually I'll admit was pretty happy when the fields came out," he said.

"Mark told me a bit about the horse and his traits and what I should do – and it all worked out well.

"I know I spoiled the girls' quinella . . . maybe they should have had a Duet instead (any two placegetters).

"My horse kept finding but I was more concerned about catching McKayler [Barnes] at the top of the straight as she had a good lead – but he found the line well."

Gregory-Jack has no intentions of giving up his day job to drive or train full-time.

"I break a lot in and I am more focussed on that – when I'm home," he said.

"I do being part of this series.

"The first year was good but it's become even more competitive than ever. It's such a great concept."

Amanda Zammit