CANBERRA-based apprentice jockey Deanne Panya has already ridden more than 20 winners and now her twin sister, Beany Panya, is starting to make her mark on the racing scene.
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Recently transferred from city stables to Gulgong trainer Brett Thompson, Beany took her career tally to eight wins after a winning double at Gilgandra on Saturday.
First leg of her double was the Thompson-trained Willywhoosh in the Carlo's Jupa IGA Maiden Plate (1200m).
Willywhoosh ($4.00) led all the way and, in an extremely close photo finish, lasted to beat Yours Sincerely (David Pisani, $6.00) by a nose.
The strongly supported Tent Hill (Michael Hackett, $2.20 fav.) finished third but spoilt his winning chances by racing greenly.
The second winner for Beany Panya was a popular one as Storm Runner was trained at Gilgandra by Leo Harland.
In the Diggs Butchery Benchmark 45 Handicap (1800m) Storm Runner ($7.00), from the outside gate in a big field, produced a good performance to finish strongly from off the pace to score by more than three lengths from Benzema (Catherine Markwort, $4.20) and Easy Escape (Jeff Kehoe, $7.00).
Tony Cavallo also rode a winning double, Baltimore Stalker and Strong.
From the Cec Hodgson stable at Coonamble, Baltimore Stalker, backed from $3.50 into a $2.50 favourite, settled behind the leaders then peeled out at the 400 metre mark to race away for a three-and-a-half-length win over Girling Avenue (Catherine Markwort, $12.00) and Flying Snip (Leanne G. Henry, $12.00) in the Johnsen's Gourmet Butchery Maiden Handicap (1000m).
Trained at Dubbo by Garry Lunn, Strong ($5.00) raced in a handy spot and scored by a long neck from Poetic Justice (Michael Hackett, $15.00) with Trendeaz (Ken Dunbar, $12.00) third.
Tamworth visitor Twilight Girl, trained by Kevin Dixon and ridden by apprentice Adam Sewell, overcame a wide barrier to win the Lions Club Of Gilgandra - Cooee March Benchmark 50 Handicap (1300m).
Gilgandra will next race on Saturday, July 26.