Lauren Panella....28 Days.

[Stonie]

Some time off may do her the world of good.

She has been a very busy girl lately..........

JOCK WALLACE had a tendency to over race during the middle stages and was unable to secure clear running at any stage in the home straight and was not fully tested. Stewards questioned Driver L Panella regarding the tactics employed on JOCK WALLACE. L Panella explained that she was instructed to look to take up a forward position with cover without placing undue pressure on JOCK WALLACE. L Panella said that she was hoping to gain the position behind the leader however ended up racing three back along the marker pegs. She added that when the tempo slowed in the second quarter the gelding commenced to overrace. L Panella stated that near the 500 metres she gave thought to shifting out onto the back of MONTE CARLO LOMBO however that runner was weakening so she remained on the back of MYOURI NZ. Leaving the 400 metres L Panella said that she shifted out slightly to follow MYOURI NZ but was unable to obtain clear running with MISS LIVIA racing to her outside as a result she looked to shift back in however ROYAL PLACE had improved marginally to her inside. L Panella stated that over the final 200 metres she was not of the view that she could shift JOCK WALLACE off the back of MYOURI NZ when it appeared there was room to improve to the inside as she was concerned that the gelding may be unsafe. Trainer D New confirmed his instructions and indicated that the gelding can prove to be difficult to drive particularly when overracing. A post race vet exam revealed no abnormalities. After careful consideration L Panella was charged pursuant to AHR Rule 149(2) for an unacceptable drive. The particulars being that near the 350metres L Panella shifted JOCK WALLACE out on to the back of MYOURI NZ where there was no available clear run. This afforded ROYAL PLACE which was trailing JOCK WALLACE an opportunity to improve to its inside. Furthermore L Panella elected to keep JOCK WALLACE racing on the back of the MYOURI NZ for the remainder of the home straight when, approaching the 100 metres, in the opinion of Stewards there was an opportunity available to shift in and race to the inside of that runner to allow JOCK WALLACE to improve its position. L Panella pleaded guilty. In assessing penalty Stewards took into consideration L Panellas guilty plea, relative inexperience, her good driving record and the financial implications that any penalty may impose. L Panella was suspended for a period of 28 days.

[William]

This could pose a problem for her Camp Quality fundraising efforts.

[Harold Parker]

28 days is a joke. She was a victim of circumstances. Not only did the parked horse drop out sharply in front of her, the driver of Myouri was in and out a few times as well. If she angled inside on the first occasion she would of been knocked over. She was trying to get outside and couldn't in an effort to win. Looks to me like she's being pinged for not trying hard enough to finish 5th or 6th with 50-75m to go.

[broncobrad]

This could pose a problem for her Camp Quality fundraising efforts.

I would certainly hope someone with a higher profile than Lauren picks up the gauntlet for her whilst she is sidelined. Camp Quality. Can anyone out there think of a more deserving organisation that could benefit from harness racing support. It could even attract new people to the sport. Any bigger stables out there who might be interested???

[broncobrad]

28 days is a joke. She was a victim of circumstances. Not only did the parked horse drop out sharply in front of her, the driver of Myouri was in and out a few times as well. If she angled inside on the first occasion she would of been knocked over. She was trying to get outside and couldn't in an effort to win. Looks to me like she's being pinged for not trying hard enough to finish 5th or 6th with 50-75m to go.

Just looked at the replay and that would have to be THE MOST BRAINDEAD stewards finding in history. The horse is pulling its head off and is obviously a very difficult animal to handle. IMO she has done everything asked of her in this race and didn't take any runs that just were not there or would have been unsafe to take if she did. This panel of stewards must have been the same lot that officiated at the Bathurst meeting that I'd raised questions about in January...blind to the obvious.

An appeal here should quickly be upheld. My vision of the race a bit blurry, but it appears Lauren has her hands a bit too close to her body when the horse really fizzes up and she has to grab for more rein down the back. I am DEFINITELY no expert but I think she could have her arms extended further forward when driving a horse like this so she isn't cramped for space

[broncobrad]

Daryl, Jock Wallaces trainer, has in the past posted on the forum. It would be interesting to get his opinion of the horse and what he thought of Laurens drive.

[Harold Parker]

Just looked at the replay and that would have to be THE MOST BRAINDEAD stewards finding in history. The horse is pulling its head off and is obviously a very difficult animal to handle. IMO she has done everything asked of her in this race and didn't take any runs that just were not there or would have been unsafe to take if she did. This panel of stewards must have been the same lot that officiated at the Bathurst meeting that I'd raised questions about in January...blind to the obvious.

An appeal here should quickly be upheld. My vision of the race a bit blurry, but it appears Lauren has her hands a bit too close to her body when the horse really fizzes up and she has to grab for more rein down the back. I am DEFINITELY no expert but I think she could have her arms extended further forward when driving a horse like this so she isn't cramped for space

The majority of races at Menangle are stop start. A few horses run the gate, most ease and that's it. If the middles halves are slow, gaps inside or through (safely) is very difficult. He would of proven a tough drive for any driver the other day. No way they suspend a Snr driver for that. They're making an example of her.

[Harold Parker]

From what I've seen the few months I've been back in the country, she does appear to be a very promising driver. This punter wouldn't hesitate supporting a horse I liked if she were on it.

[tiny]

Not worth 28 days. I think it was probably worth a little chat but that is it. The horse got the better of her when the pace eased. I think it may have also been a poor choice of driver. Lauren is a good young driver but not who I would pick to drive horses that pull.

[Triple V]

There's a fair old head shaker. 28 days seems well & truly over the top for that. Like yourself Andy, I just thought the horse took charge & she was a bit of a passenger for a while. A victim of circumstance when the brakes jammed on up front. A remprimand or whatever, no dramas... but 4 weeks? Geeze. I reckon your driver was pretty harshly dealt with there Daryl.

[Thevoiceofreason]

Not sure what you are on about ringman because the stewards only charged Ms Panella with aspects of her drive from the 350 meters.. so clearly they accepted her drive and the explanations offered to that point, so what happened at the 500m is of no consequence.

It is like so many things discussed on the forum you need to see the head on to have an informed opinion as to if there is a breach or not, if there is a run to the inside that you could have driven a truck through then the stewards may well be right without the head on it is impossible to tell, so I will not offer an opinion one way or the other on the drive.

My understanding is that Lauren Panella started her harness racing career in NEWCASTLE where she progressed from a successful equestrian rider to Harness Racing .... I am pretty confident the only other members of her family now in harness racing are her mum who straps one or two and her little sister who drives mini trotters. perhaps one of them upset you as well as for a brother I think your on the wrong track... regardless it was a comment in very poor taste.

[ringman]

I say at the 500 because she mentions it

[Daryl New]

Daryl, Jock Wallaces trainer, has in the past posted on the forum. It would be interesting to get his opinion of the horse and what he thought of Laurens drive.
Had to get a new login, thus my abscence.
I have a lot of respect for Lauren and no issues with her drive at all. Don't want to say anything else at this point, other than to say that I have requested that the enquiry be reopened to hear unpresented evidence.
As far as the horse goes he is a nice horse, honest with speed, however when a field slows from 27 to 32.1 some horses will resent/be unable to come back comfortably and get on the bit. Her evidence was accurate in my view and she drove to instructions. The Stewards were entitled to ask questions as he was second fav I think.

[Daryl New]

Had to get a new login, thus my abscence.
I have a lot of respect for Lauren and no issues with her drive at all. Don't want to say anything else at this point, other than to say that I have requested that the enquiry be reopened to hear unpresented evidence.
As far as the horse goes he is a nice horse, honest with speed, however when a field slows from 27 to 32.1 some horses will resent/be unable to come back comfortably and get on the bit. Her evidence was accurate in my view and she drove to instructions. The Stewards were entitled to ask questions as he was second fav I think.
Update
Spoke to the Chairman of the Meeting who referred me to the Chief steward with my evidence/explanation as to why I believed that the incident happened. Let us just say he was not interested as he was not the Steward on duty on the day, declined to take any evidence as it was irrelevant and would not be admissable at appeal. I put up my hands in surrender and left. He did say other things but I wont repeat here. Dare I say anything else, not at this time. Darren ring me.

[broncobrad]

Update
Spoke to the Chairman of the Meeting who referred me to the Chief steward with my evidence/explanation as to why I believed that the incident happened. Let us just say he was not interested as he was not the Steward on duty on the day, declined to take any evidence as it was irrelevant and would not be admissable at appeal. I put up my hands in surrender and left. He did say other things but I wont repeat here. Dare I say anything else, not at this time. Darren ring me.


Daryl, don't say anything on here that would put you in an awkward position. Poor Lauren has copped it in the neck. You don't need to be added to the charge sheet.

They would probably hit you with a furphy out of the ARL rule book - 'bringing the sport into disrepute'. Hang on, I am sure they already have that hanging over them at present.

[thepacingman]

Long time reader, first time poster but am i missing the point here or something.

The stewards report says she was charged under rule 149(2).
My point being the report also says "L Panella pleaded guilty".
So all the comments in previous posts about her getting a bum wrap are irrelevant.
If Panella thought so, surely she would have said not guilty and fought the charge tooth and nail.

[broncobrad]

Hi Stephen

When I posted a week ago that Lauren should appeal the decision I realised immediately that that was even more bone-headed than the stewards findings and penaltys. Got me.

However if the stewards are going to be pinging drives like that, they are barking up the wrong tree. If they want to investigate questionable drives they should head up to Newcastle or out to Bathurst

[aussiebreno]

However if the stewards are going to be pinging drives like that, they are barking up the wrong tree. If they want to investigate questionable drives they should head up to Newcastle or out to Bathurst
Add Leeton, Wagga, Albury etc to that.

[Greg Hando]

Why are some drive's not questioned when it seem's so obvious to untrained people like us that they should be ?

[Lenem]

Have you never stood in a TAB agency and seen the reaction oF "Joe Punter" to just about any losing drive,especially a favourite ? What seems obvious to the "untrained person" is surprisingly not always correct , which is precisely why "trained" people are employed to do the job !

[thepacingman]

Some more time off. Surely there is no defending this drive. Imcompetence is a word that comes to mind. Opportunities aplenty to ease and take a trail especially with the fast sectionals. She should think herself lucky she only got 6 weeks.

Penrith 19 April. Race 6.

http://www.trotstv.com.au/?mc=PE190412&rn=6

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++
L. Panella was questioned regarding her tactics on Im Le Freak in particular her reasons for racing three wide for the entire race. L. Panella advised that her instructions from trainer B. Walters were to find cover early and put the horse into the race from the 800 metres. This was confirmed by trainer B. Walters. L. Panella stated she progressed forward at the start from the second row draw and the horse commenced to pull hard until near the 1800 metres when the horse settled. L. Panella stated that she did not attempt to restrain back one length to move into the running line near the 1800 metres as she believed Im Le Freak would start to pull again. For this reason she drove Im Le Freak with vigour in an attempt to gain the position outside the leader however with Brick Top and Mabrook pulling hard and running quick quarters she was unable to make ground. L. Panella stated that near the 1400 metres she observed M. Reese indicate to her that the position outside the leader was not available to her however she elected to continue racing three wide. L. Panella stated that near the 1100 metres she noticed Kurts President who was racing in advance of her was having difficulty maintaining its position so she again urged Im Le Freak forward endeavouring to obtain the position in the running line in front of Kurts President. L.Panella stated that Im Le Freak was unable to make ground and continued to race three wide until he commenced to tire and give ground from the 600 metres to be beaten 61 metres.

L. Panella pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 149(2) of an unacceptable drive. The particulars being that after racing three wide early, L. Panella failed to avail herself of the opportunity to move into the running line near the 1800 metres which were in accordance with the trainers instructions but continued to urge Im Le Freak forward whilst the leaders were running fast quarters. In addition, after becoming aware the position outside the leader was not available, L. Panella again placed Im Le Freak under pressure and drove with vigour in an attempt to gain a position in the running line. Stewards were of the opinion that L. Panella failed to make any reasonable attempt to restrain Im Le Freak and allow it some respite. L. Panella’s licence to drive in races was suspended for 6 weeks.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++

[broncobrad]

An inexcusable drive by Lauren. Circumstances of a race are one thing, doing something about it is another. Rule 149(2) to me is fast becoming the get out clause to apply by stewards who would prefer to apply this charge instead of a more serious charge which is likely to be downgraded on appeal.

[broncobrad]

Rule 149(2) was applied twice on the night, B O'Brien copping 8 weeks for a similar offence. One can only hope that consistency to identifying these drives and action being taken is now going to be par for the course and not just a one off. It just seems to me that if you are a lesser light you can expect heavy penaltys, but if you have a high profile, more often than not, the explanation is noted and no further action is taken.

http://www.harness.org.au/stewards-reports-detail.cfm?mc=PE190412

[broncobrad]

Credit where credit is due. Lauren has just driven Juryman perfectly to win the third tonight. Restrained to last, let the race unfold, went bang at the exactly the right moment and gets the bikkies at $9. What a difference a day (or two) makes. Dirty, because I've only backed her for the place.