Back to England

In 1979, Rae returned to England to ride for the Italian trainer Luca Cumani, as a jockey and a work rider, where he rode many good horses. Luca was unstinting in his praise of Rae: "He's essential to me. He's been instrumental in making all our good horses and can teach them more or less to do anything".

While Rae was with Luca he had a hand in the preparation and racing career of many good horses - for example Tolomeo (winner of the Arlington Million and a Guineas second), Ivan Allan's Commanche Run (St Leger) and Capricorn Belle; Then Again; the hard pulling World Leader (St Leger third); Bairn; Celestial Storm and Free Guest.

Rae also rode Tolomeo into third behind the illustrious pair of Teenoso (Lester Piggott) and Sadlers Wells in the King George Stakes. Other notable achievements were Group winners on Capricorn Belle (Van Geest Stakes) and Free Guest (Princess Royal Stakes)