Little did we think that this historic moment would be his last, Pans Landing gave up his battle for life last Wednesday Night at the IB Stables at Inisbeg Baltimore having been involved in a serious training accident earlier that afternoon. The towering bay 5 year old by The Panderosa out of Needles and Pans considered a double handful, what he lacked in charisma he abounded in ability.
Purchased in Harrisburgh as a yearling by the Kenmare based Woollen Merchants / Hoteliers ‘Finbarr and Rose Quill, he quickly proved his worth winning his maiden at the Spring Tregaron in 2010 closely followed by wins at Annaghmore Raceway, the Hurricane Pace heat and final at Musselburgh, Tregaron and Manch finishing off with a tally of 6 wins and 2 places from 8 starts as a 3 year old.
Highlights of his 4 year old campaign included a heat win at Appleby Spring handicap, touched off in that final by Premier Dream. He went down by a narrow margin in the Stayers handicap at Tregaron to Laneside Lexus, produced wins at the Central Track Leap and the Bobby Hanson Memorial at Portmarnock in September with the penultimate landing in October when he touched down in a new record time of 1:56.1 in the Red Mills sponsored James Corey Memorial FFA at Portmarnock taking the big guns to task including Matador Hall, Doonbeg and a Fewdollarsmore.
In a short but memorable career of 20 starts he notched up 9 wins and was only ever once out of the money frame with total earnings in excess of €13000.
With his 5 year old career well mapped out to include the Appleby Spring Handicap, the famous Musselburgh Pace, the S4C Crock of Gold and the Welsh Classic, he was capable of landing any or all of the afore mentioned, it will now remain a mystery for all time.
A devastating loss to both Quill and Murphy families, friends and supporters, following hot on the heels of the retirement of Doonbeg and Crown Manhattan and the export to Canada of Laneside Lexus the departure of another rising star deals a body blow to the FFA class in both Ireland and Great Britain.
Pans Landing follows in the hoof prints of a long list of success stories from the Inisbeg training base over many years, Shellsmoke, HT Adios, Stoneriggs I’am, Saunders Spirit, Coalford Victory, Jill & Jones to mention but a few.
On a positive note it’s good to report that Tadhg Murphy is due to be released from Hospital this afternoon carrying the scars of battle he is expected to make a full recovery.
