After 132 days on the sidelines due to a serious hand injury sustained in a race fall, harness racing driver Lauren Panella returned in winning form at Newcastle on Friday afternoon. The 22-year-old recorded two victories in her first two drives back with Arms Of An Angel and Salty Robyn winning impressively.
Both horses are trained by her fiance Shane Tritton but the first winner, Arms Of An Angel, gave Panella a few heart flutters after it galloped with a lap to go. The former kiwi trained mare settled down quickly, with Panella steering the four-year-old back into the lead before going onto record an effortless win.
Salty Robyn's win was nowhere near as dramatic with the NZ Jewels finalist leading throughout to record an easy victory.
Panella had seven drives on her first day back at Newcastle and will head to Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday night for another six. Last season's NSW Drivers Premiership winner is hoping Mach Beauty can add to her winner's tally as she is 25 wins behind this season's leaders Todd McCarthy and Robbie Morris.
It was announced earlier this week Panella will be one of two NSW representatives at the Australian Drivers Championship in Tasmania next month.
Greg Hayes