TWIN SISTERS SALUTE AT THE SAME RACE MEETING

By Graham Potter | Monday, May 22, 2023

Twin sisters Beany and Deanne Panya notched up a special ‘twin’ result when they both rode winners at the same meeting for the first time at Shoalhaven City Turf Club meeting at Nowra on Sunday.

Both riders had only returned to race riding action in relatively recent times after extended periods out of the saddle … Deanne Panya having been out of the saddle from January 2021 until her return in April this year, while Beany Panya had been away from riding for an even longer period of time, not have ridden between September 2017 and her return in February this year.

The time away … during which they both starting their families … and the uncertainly for a period of time there as to whether one or both of them would indeed return to the saddle made Sunday’s result an even more special occasion than it might have been in more ordinary circumstances.

Beany Panya was first to strike on the day, saluting on the $5.50 chance Fifty Carats for trainer Tash Burleigh, while Deanne Panya put her name on the winners’ list three races later when getting the Marc Connors trained race favourite, Willaidow, home by the narrowest of margins to claim her second win since her comeback.

Interestingly enough, both of those wins have been aboard Willaidow.

For Beany Penya, the victory aboard Fifty Carats gave her a one hundred percent win record over the last two meetings in which she has been involved … that coming from only one ride at Canberra on Friday, where she won on the $7 chance Tulla Park, again for trainer Tash Burleigh, and the win on Fifty Carats at Nowra, which was also her only ride of the day.

Fair to say the confidence will be building for both riders on the back of Sunday’s results but, for now they are entitled to just savour the sweet taste of their special joint success and the vindication of their respective decisions to get back in the saddle.