END OF THE ROAD FOR IMMENSELY TALENTED PANTHER

Ian Fortune

Unanimouspanther may not have had the longest racing career but the strapping son of Droopys Sydney certainly left his mark.

Sadly, It was confirmed in recent days that he has run his final race after picking up a gracilis injury in the opening round of the Bresbet Easter Cup last month.

Indeed, there was just under a year between his first and last starts, yet he managed to win a classic, take on and beat the best the British had to offer in their own back yard and also establish himself as one of the very fastest in training.

It all began in the opening round of the 2024 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial. Despite his inexperience, his connections clearly felt he was up to the challenge and threw him in at the deepend. Ultimately, his inexperience was too great and he found traffic at the turn after tardy start to make an immediate exit from the classic.

SHINING BRIGHT IN LEE STRAND

It was perhaps a blessing as he would have time to earn some much-needed experience before being aimed at the Lee Strand 550 at Tralee.

An eye-catcher in a prep race over two bends, he was installed an odds-on favourite to win his opening round assignment in the Lee Strand and it came as no surprise to see him opening his account in style.

Getting loose early, he would go on to win in a sizzling fastest of the round 29.47. He would follow up in the second round and semi-finals before starting favourite in the decider. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be and he finished back in fourth.

A CLASSIC CHAMPION

There was no time for him to waste, however, as a week later he would turn up in the opening round of the Produce Stakes at Clonmel and he was again one of the stars of the competition.

Winning is first two assignments in the stake with ease before finding traffic in the semis. He would overcome that traffic to qualify in second before being rewarded for his efforts with an ideal draw on the fence in the decider.

This was his moment to shine. With a kind draw on the fence in the classic final, he burst his way to the front on the corner before racing on to claim a famous three length success in a rapid 28.38.

Just ten races into his fledgling career he was already a classic winner for owner Ciaran O’Sullivan, providing his handler Pat Buckley with a second Produce Stakes success.

MAKING AN IMPACT IN THE ST LEGER

He was now seen as a real force in Irish greyhound racing and ran a creditable race in the Dundalk International, finishing third after a very slow start.

Next it was on to the St Leger at Limerick and he was purring in the early rounds, winning in 29.34 in the opening round before clocking a fastest of the year and second fastest of all-time 29.24 in the second round.

To highlight the quality of the run, he was just three spots off the eight-year-old track record of Jaytee Taylor. When you consider the many champions that have raced at Limerick in the subsequent years, it goes to highlight just how fast Unanimoupanther was.

Sadly, it would be his final start in the classic as he would encounter bad traffic in the third round when amongst the favourites for outright success.

A SELECT STAKES CHAMPION

Again, the most was made out of his misfortune with the sensational black rerouted to the Select Stakes in Nottingham.

He took on the best in the UK including the powerful Barntick Bear, the razor-sharp Links Maverick, former English Derby runner-up Romeo Command as well as the talented Newinn Syd. The hugely talented Untold Dollar was also a runner from these shores.

Word of Panther’s ability had clearly filtered across the Irish Sea as he was heavily backed before going to traps the 3/1 joint second favourite. This was Unanimouspanther at his brilliant best. Loving every inch of the long run to the turn, he matched and bettered Links Maverick into the turn to dictate the pace.

Once doing so there wasn’t a greyhound in training that would worry him. Moving with real fluency and purpose, Unanimouspanther raced to an almost four length success over Barntick Bear.

THE END OF THE ROAD

Little did we realise that it would be the final win of his short but illustrious career.

He strained his gracilis in preparation for a Derby challenge and was rushed back or the classic. Failing to produce anything like his best, he went out at the second-round stake.

He was given time to fully recover before returning this year. He had three comeback runs and did seem to be finding form only for suffering a cruel blow in the opening round of the Easter Cup. Losing his action before the second turn, it was clear he had picked up an injury.

Unfortunately, it was found that he had again damaged the gracilis and Ciaran O’Sullivan and Pat Buckley were left with no choice but to call time on his racing career. It’s testament to his ability that in a career that spanned only twenty-one starts, he achieved so much.

It’s well documented that he raced at a big weight, between 85 and 88lbs, but always looked light on his feet. Certainly, he was a joy to watch in full stride but also wasn’t afraid to squeeze through a narrow gap, indicating his desire, bravery and will to win.

JUST TURNING THREE

In many ways, He won’t actually turn three years of age until later this month and it’s such a shame we won’t get to see him as a full matured star this year.

There was every chance he was going to be as good if not better this summer but we will never know.

It now means a new career awaits him. Ciaran O’Sullivan is going to stand him at stud himself and he reports that there have been a few enquiries already. A son of the sensational Droopys Sydney out of Mystical Moll, who hails from a famous dam line that goes back through Sizzling Sarah and Nifty Niamh, he certainly has the pedigree to throw champions.

We look forward to see his pups hitting the track in the future and wish him the best in his retirement. His racing career may have been brief, but there is a change his legacy could be a longer lasting. Best of luck Panther.