Gregg Fennell notches first winner of 2025 season
TRAINER Gregg Fennell finally got off the mark for the 2025 racing season, thanks to a brilliant ride from champion jockey Raddesh Roman aboard Pappie Don. The duo dominated the second race on Saturday, February 8, 2025, a Maiden Condition event for native-bred four-year-olds and upward over seven furlongs (1,400m).
Pappie Don exploded out of the starting gates, seizing the early lead ahead of Successful Man (Youville Pinnock), Monster Vigorous (Tyrese Anderson), and Valley of Love (Demar Williams) down the backstretch. As the field approached the half-mile turn Pappie Don shifted gears, increasing the tempo and leaving his rivals struggling to keep pace.
Turning for home, Pappie Don looked unstoppable on the lead, and Roman urged him home to a convincing 1¾-length victory over Monster Vigorous and Valley of Love. The winning time was 1:31.1 (24.3 x 49.0 x 1:16.3).
