Grace destined for success

20 August 2021

SHE’S only 18-years-old yet Grace Panella is another talented driver that credits her success in harness racing to the valuable experience she gained through the Mini Trotting Association.

Panella, who was destined to progress in the sport, follows in the footsteps her older sister Lauren Tritton, who took all before her here in Australia before relocating to the US with her husband Shane. Employed on a full-time basis by Clayton Harmey for the past nine months, Grace had her first race drive 18 months ago and has since notched up 21 winners from limited opportunities.

“Things have really opened up for me since I came to work with Clayton,” she said.

“I have been afforded some great opportunities here in the Hunter region. 

“I have been very lucky, I must say.

“I had a lot of success coming through the mini trots in New South Wales and got to travel to many tracks throughout Australia and even New Zealand.

“I have also been most fortunate to be mentored by so many top horsemen during my short time in the sport, including Lauren and Shane [Tritton] , Clayton [Harmey], Darren Binskin and Darren McCall.

“Each of them has taught me many different things, they all have their own way of doing things with the horses and that has given me such a good grounding and helped me greatly on my journey.”

Grace has a busy night at Newcastle this evening where she will drive in six of the 10 races with most of them drawing well, which should help their cause.

“On paper, I feel Major Bob will be hard to beat and is my best chance of landing a winner,” she said.

“His trackwork at home has been really good and he is chasing four wins on the bounce.”

Major Bob has won 14 races, with his past three wins at Newcastle.

He has drawn ideally in barrier two in Race 5, his main danger appearing to be seven-year-old warhorse Shannonstheman from the Darren Elder stable.

Panella also rates Huey Lewis a big chance in Race 4, suggesting that his last run was full of merit.

The gelding has been in consistent form, being placed at his past three Newcastle starts, his latest when second behind Que Sera in a fast 1.54.7 when he raced without cover.

From barrier one, he should enjoy a nice run in tonight’s assignment.