Panella ends fruitful season on a high

5 January 2024

DESPITE not equalling the number of wins from her previous season 2023 was a year to remember for 21-year-old Hunter Valley driver Grace Panella.

Panella’s most significant achievement was her selection to represent New South Wales in the Australian Drivers Championship, while she also gained her trainer’s licence, landing her first winner in mid-November.

“It has been another busy year for me,” said Panella.

“I have driven in a similar number of races as I did last season and was more than satisfied with my 66 winners.

“Achieving my biggest goal to take out a trainer’s licence and then landing my first winner has been the icing on the cake, so I am very happy with the way things have played out.”

Panella ended the year on a high at Maitland last Saturday when in front of a large crowd on Inter City Pace night she displayed all her talent when scoring with four top-shelf winning drives, including a sensational performance to land the Roy Roots-trained Boyzhavtime home first in the Maitland City Cup.

“Driving four winners on any night is pretty cool, but to do it on such a big night at Maitland was so exciting for me,” she said.

“It is one of those race meetings in the Hunter that, as a driver, you look forward to competing at.

“And even though I had little luck in the feature race, I came away thrilled with what had unfolded.”

Panella’s had a winning strike rate of 12 per cent as a driver in 2023 with a record of 66 wins, 126 placings and her drives amassing earnings of $598,841.

As a trainer, Panella had 20 starters for a win and six placings.