Amy Day
With more than one third of the racing season now completed it is no surprise to see the two leading drivers in New South Wales are females. Lauren Panella and Amanda Turnbull have already driven more than 140 NSW winners between them this season and with fellow driver Amy Day, the trio dominated the big meeting at Goulburn on Monday afternoon driving six of the eight winners.
The girls started out strongly with Panella driving the first winner when Salty Robyn proved too fast for his rivals and set a new track record for 2yos in the process. Panella made it two from two when former kiwi filly Miss Riviera Belle won the second race. The daughter of Bettors Delight will now be set for the NSW Oaks at Tabcorp Park Menangle next month.
Amanda Turnbull won race three when she drove Last Man Out for her father Steve while Amy Day drove the second placegetter Ten In Command. Day went one better in race four when the Treuer family owned Audrey Maree proved too strong.
Day made it a training/driving double in race five when Ponderena stormed home to win, the daughter of Ponder beating another two mares as the female dominance continued. Trainer Belinda McCarthy tried valiantly to keep females in the winners’ circle in race six, her two runners Mister Bling and Epaulette finished second and third in a very close finish.
Panella was back to her winning ways in the feature event when she drove Easy On The Eye to victory in the Frank and Edna Day Goulburn Cup. Panella took the seven year old straight to the front and he was never troubled in recording his 17th career victory. Amanda Turnbull drove the second placegetter Heza Thrill.
So while the lady drivers were successful in six of the eight races on the card, they also drove three quinellas between them and took home the major share of the spoils at the Carnival Of Cups meeting.
With a number of feature races to be run in NSW over the next six weeks, the female drivers have not been forgotten. The Gr 2 Lexus International Lady Drivers Invitational will be run on Inter Dominion Grand Final day at Tabcorp Park Menangle with ten talented reinswomen competing.
Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) is the controlling body for harness racing in New South Wales with responsibility for commercial and regulatory management of the industry including 31 racing clubs across the State. HRNSW is headed by an industry-appointed Board of Directors and is independent of Government.
To arrange an interview or for further information please contact:
Name: Greg Hayes
Position: Media Co-ordinator
Phone: (02) 9722 6600
Email: ghayes@hrnsw.com.au
