# Landing Light
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{{Short description|Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse}}
{{about||the aircraft light|landing lights|the Don Paterson book|Landing Light (book)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox racehorse
| horsename = Landing Light
|image_name =
|caption =
| sire = [In The Wings](/source/In_the_Wings_(horse))
| grandsire = [Sadler's Wells](/source/Sadler's_Wells_(horse))
| dam = Gay Hellene
| damsire = [Ela-Mana-Mou](/source/Ela-Mana-Mou)
| sex = [Gelding](/source/Gelding)
| foaled = 9 May 1995[{{cite web|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=2496579®istry=T&horse_name==Landing%20Light%20(IRE)&dam_name==Gay%20Hellene&foaling_year=1995&nicking_stats_indicator=Y## |title=Landing Light pedigree |website=Equineline|date= |accessdate=2014-03-07}}]
| country = Ireland
| colour = [Bay](/source/Bay_(horse))
| breeder = [Ballymacoll Stud](/source/Ballymacoll_Stud)
| owner = [Arnold Weinstock](/source/Arnold_Weinstock)
Mr & Mrs John Poynton
| trainer = [Roger Charlton](/source/Roger_Charlton)
[David Smaga](/source/David_Smaga)
[Nicky Henderson](/source/Nicky_Henderson)
| record = 22:9-3-1
| earnings = £308,650
| race = [Tote Gold Trophy](/source/Tote_Gold_Trophy) (2001)
[Championship Hurdle](/source/Champion_Hurdle) (2001)
[Fighting Fifth Hurdle](/source/Fighting_Fifth_Hurdle) (2001)
[Christmas Hurdle](/source/Christmas_Hurdle) (2001)
[Cesarewitch Handicap](/source/Cesarewitch_Handicap) (2003)
| awards =
| honours =
| updated=
}}
'''Landing Light''' (foaled 9 May 1995) was an Irish-bred [Thoroughbred](/source/Thoroughbred) [racehorse](/source/racehorse). Originally trained on the [flat](/source/Flat_racing) in France he was later transferred to England where he excelled in [hurdle races](/source/Hurdling_(horse_race)). In 2001 he was arguably the best hurdler in Britain, winning the [Tote Gold Trophy](/source/Tote_Gold_Trophy), Championship Hurdle (a substitute [Champion Hurdle](/source/Champion_Hurdle)), [Fighting Fifth Hurdle](/source/Fighting_Fifth_Hurdle) and [Christmas Hurdle](/source/Christmas_Hurdle). He failed to reproduce his best form in subsequent [National Hunt](/source/National_Hunt) campaigns, but returned to the flat as an eight-year-old in 2003 and won the [Cesarewitch Handicap](/source/Cesarewitch_Handicap) on his final racecourse appearance.
==Background==
Landing Light was a bay horse with a white [star](/source/star_(horse_marking)) bred in Ireland by the [Ballymacoll Stud](/source/Ballymacoll_Stud). He was sired by [In The Wings](/source/In_the_Wings_(horse)), the British-bred, French-trained winner of the 1990 [Breeders' Cup Turf](/source/Breeders'_Cup_Turf). As a breeding stallion, his other progeny included the multiple Group One winner [Singspiel](/source/Singspiel_(horse)) and the outstanding long distance hurdler [Inglis Drever](/source/Inglis_Drever).[{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/44610/in-the-wings|title=In The Wings Stud Record |date=2012-02-15 |publisher=Racing Post|accessdate=2014-03-09}}] His dam Gay Hellene was a successful racemare who won the [Prix de Flore](/source/Prix_de_Flore_(horse_race)) and was rated 111 by [Timeform](/source/Timeform) in 1985.[{{cite book|author=Timeform staff|title=Racehorses of 1985| publisher=Timeform |year = 1986|isbn=0-900599-42-1}}] Gay Hellene was a daughter of the [Irish 1,000 Guineas](/source/Irish_1%2C000_Guineas) winner [Gaily](/source/Gaily_(horse)), whose other descendants have included [Pilsudski](/source/Pilsudski_(horse))[{{cite web |url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family11.htm |title=Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Sedbury Royal Mare – Family 11 |publisher=Bloodlines.net |date= |accessdate=2014-03-09 |archive-date=7 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707195956/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family11.htm |url-status=dead }}]
Landing Light was sent into training with [Roger Charlton](/source/Roger_Charlton) at [Beckhampton](/source/Beckhampton), but was transferred to the stable of David Smaga in France before his racecourse debut.
==Racing career==
===1998: three-year-old season===
Landing Light contested four races as a three-year-old in France in 1998, ridden on each occasion by [Dominique Boeuf](/source/Dominique_Boeuf). After finishing second on his racecourse debut at [Chantilly Racecourse](/source/Chantilly_Racecourse) on 3 May he recorded his first victory at [Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse](/source/Maisons-Laffitte_Racecourse) in June staying on in the closing stage to win by a head from Musgrave over 2000 metres.[{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/213/maisons-laffitte/1998-06-06/253907 |title=Prix de l'Association des Commercats de Maisons-Laffitte result |date=6 June 1998 |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2014-03-07}}] He finished ninth in the Listed Prix Pelleas at Maisons-Laffitte later in June and did not reappear until October, when he finished seventh in the Listed Prix Vulcan at [Saint-Cloud Racecourse](/source/Saint-Cloud_Racecourse)
===2000/2001 National Hunt season===
Landing Light did not race in 1999 and was moved to the stable of [Nicky Henderson](/source/Nicky_Henderson) at [Upper Lambourn](/source/Upper_Lambourn) to be prepared for a career in National Hunt racing. He made his first appearance over obstacles in a [novice](/source/novice_(racehorse)) [hurdle](/source/Hurdling_(horse_race)) at [Wincanton Racecourse](/source/Wincanton_Racecourse) on 24 February 2000. Ridden by [Mick Fitzgerald](/source/Mick_Fitzgerald), he started at odds of [9/2](/source/Fractional_odds) in a seventeen-runner field and won by six [lengths](/source/horse_length) from Salford Flyer.[{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/90/wincanton/2000-02-24/276901 |title=Mere Maiden Hurdle result |date=24 February 2000 |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2014-03-09}}] After this race he was sold privately to Mr and Mrs John Poynton.
Having won his only previous hurdle race, Landing Light was no longer eligible to compete in novice events when the new season began in the autumn of 2000 and had to race against much more experienced opponents. In December, he started 2/1 second favourite for the [Knights Royal Hurdle](/source/Knights_Royal_Hurdle) at [Ascot Racecourse](/source/Ascot_Racecourse) and finished third, twenty lengths behind the French-bred Valiramix. On 27 January, he carried a weight of 154 [pounds](/source/Pound_(mass)) in the Letheby & Christopher Hurdle at [Cheltenham Racecourse](/source/Cheltenham_Racecourse) and started 6/1 second favourite against sixteen opponents. He was restrained by Fitzgerald in the early stages before moving up to take the lead approaching the last hurdle. He stayed on well in the closing stages to win by six lengths from La Landiere.[{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/11/cheltenham/2001-01-27/295649 |title=Letheby & Christopher Hurdle result |date=27 January 2001 |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2014-03-09}}] Henderson praised Fitzgerald for giving the horse "a very good educational ride" but some observers criticised the winner for his tendency to carry his head at a high angle.[{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Henderson%3A+Light+is+as+good+as+my+two+Trophy+winners.-a070242425 |title=Henderson: Light is as good as my two Trophy winners |work=Racing Post|author=Graham Dench |date=10 February 2001 |accessdate=2014-03-09}}] Two weeks later he was made 4/1 favourite for the Grade III Tote Gold Trophy, the most valuable [handicap hurdle](/source/Handicap_(horse_racing)) in Europe at [Newbury Racecourse](/source/Newbury_Racecourse) in which he carried 142 pounds. Fitzgerald repeated the tactics employed at Cheltenham, holding the gelding up in the early stages before moving up to take the lead after the second last and won by three lengths from Rooster Booster.[{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/36/newbury/2001-02-10/294578 |title=Tote Gold Trophy result |date=10 February 2001 |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2014-03-09}}]
The 2001 [Cheltenham Festival](/source/Cheltenham_Festival) was postponed and then cancelled owing to [an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease](/source/2001_United_Kingdom_foot-and-mouth_outbreak). Landing Light reappeared at the [Grand National](/source/Grand_National) meeting at [Aintree Racecourse](/source/Aintree_Racecourse) in April but ran very poorly and was pulled up before the second last in the [Aintree Hurdle](/source/Aintree_Hurdle) which was won by [Barton](/source/Barton_(horse)). At the end of April [Sandown Racecourse](/source/Sandown_Racecourse) staged a series of races intended as substitutes for the major races lost as a result Cheltenham's cancellation including the Grade I Championship Hurdle, a substitute for the [Champion Hurdle](/source/Champion_Hurdle). As Mick Fitzgerald opted to ride Geos, [Richard Johnson](/source/Richard_Johnson_(jockey)) took the ride on Landing Light,[{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sandown's+grand+finale%3A+Fitzgerald+left+to+count+cost+of+wrong...-a073831280 |title=Sandown's grand finale: Fitzgerald left to count cost of wrong decisions |work=Racing Post|date=30 April 2001 |author=Jon Lees |accessdate=2014-03-09}}] who started a 12/1 outsider in a field of nine which also included Barton, Valiramix, [Hors La Loi III](/source/Hors_La_Loi_III) and the French-trained favourite Bilboa. The race's status as a championship event was undermined by the lack of Irish challengers, notably [Istabraq](/source/Istabraq) who had won the last three Champion Hurdles. In a change of tactics, Landing Light raced in second place behind Teaatral before taking the lead approaching the second last hurdle. He went clear of his rivals at the last and won by three lengths from Geos.[{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/54/sandown/2001-04-28/299715 |title=Championship Hurdle result |date=28 April 2001 |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2014-03-09}}]
===2001/2002 National Hunt season===
On his first appearance of the new season, Landing Light was sent to [Newcastle Racecourse](/source/Newcastle_Racecourse) on 1 December for the Fighting Fifth Hurdle which was then a Grade II race. Starting the 4/5 favourite, he took the lead at the second last and repelled the renewed challenge of [The French Furze](/source/The_French_Furze) to win by a length.[{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/37/newcastle/2001-12-01/308791 |title=Fighting Fifth Hurdle result |date=1 December 2001 |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2014-03-09}}] At the [Boxing Day](/source/Boxing_Day) meeting at [Kempton Park Racecourse](/source/Kempton_Park_Racecourse) he faced Bilboa, Hors La Loi III and [Azertyuiop](/source/Azertyuiop_(horse)) in the Grade I Christmas Hurdle. Starting the 5/4 favourite, he appeared to be struggling three hurdles out but rallied to take the lead at the next obstacle. He went clear of the field at the last and won by two and a half lengths from Bilboa, despite being eased down by Fitzgerald in the closing stages.[{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/28/kempton/2001-12-26/309738 |title=Christmas Hurdle result |date=26 December 2001 |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2014-03-09}}]
On 12 March 2012, Landing Light made his first appearance at the Cheltenham Festival and started 100/30 third favourite behind Istabraq and Valiramix for the Champion Hurdle. After being hampered at the second last he stayed on in the closing stages but was never able to reach the lead and finished fifth, four lengths behind the winner Hors La Loi III.[{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/11/cheltenham/2002-03-12/310546 |title=Champion Hurdle result |date=12 March 2002 |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2014-03-09}}] On his final appearance of the season he was sent to Ireland for the Grade I [Punchestown Champion Hurdle](/source/Punchestown_Champion_Hurdle) on 26 April but ran poorly, finishing last of the six runners behind [Davenport Milenium](/source/Davenport_Milenium).
===2002/2003 National Hunt season===
Landing Light failed to win in four races during the 2002/2003 National Hunt season. On his seasonal debut in November he made no impact when finishing tailed off in last place behind [Baracouda](/source/Baracouda) in the [Ascot Hurdle](/source/Ascot_Hurdle). Three weeks later he produced his best effort of the season when he finished second to Rooster Booster, to whom he was conceding four pounds, in the [Bula Hurdle](/source/Bula_Hurdle) at Cheltenham.[{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/11/cheltenham/2002-12-14/325179 |title=Bula Hurdle result |date=14 December 2002 |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2014-03-09}}] He finished seventh behind Rooster Booster at level weights in the Champion Hurdle in March and fourth behind [Deano's Beeno](/source/Deano's_Beeno) over three miles at Ascot in April.
===2003: eight-year-old (flat) season===
Henderson felt that Landing Light was "starting to get a bit tired of jumping and maybe a bit knowing"[{{cite news|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/RACING%3A+Eddery+delighted+by+double+success.-a0109012348 |title=Eddery delighted by double success |work=[Birmingham Post](/source/Birmingham_Post) |author=William Hayler |date=20 October 2003 |accessdate=2014-03-09}}] and decided to campaign the horse on the flat in 2003. Four and a half years after finishing unplaced at Saint-Cloud, Landing Light returned to flat racing at [York Racecourse](/source/York_Racecourse) in May 2003. Assigned top weight of 140 pounds and ridden by [Kieren Fallon](/source/Kieren_Fallon), he started a 25/1 outsider for a [handicap race](/source/Handicap_(horse_racing)) over fourteen furlongs. He made steady progress in the straight to take the lead near the finish and won by half a length from the [Michael Jarvis](/source/Michael_Jarvis)-trained Hambleden.[{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/107/york/2003-05-14/331830 |title=Tote Exacta Handicap result |date=14 May 2003 |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2014-03-09}}] The gelding was again given top weight of 140 pounds when he started at odds of 7/1 for the [Ascot Stakes](/source/Ascot_Stakes) over two and a half miles at [Royal Ascot](/source/Royal_Ascot) and finished second of the twenty-seven runners behind Sindapour. On 28 June, Landing Light started the 9/2 favourite for the [Northumberland Plate](/source/Northumberland_Plate) at Newcastle, but finished tenth behind Unleash.
After a break of more than three and a half months, Landing Light returned in the Cesarewitch Handicap over two and a quarter miles at [Newmarket Racecourse](/source/Newmarket_Racecourse) in October. Ridden by the veteran [Pat Eddery](/source/Pat_Eddery), who had never won the race, he carried 130 pounds and started at odds of 12/1 in a field of thirty-six runners. Eddery held the horse up in the early stages before moving forward three furlongs from the finish. He took the lead approaching the final furlong and won by two and a half lengths from the Scottish challenger Sun Bird.[{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/38/newmarket/2003-10-18/337629 |title=Cesarewitch result |date=18 October 2003 |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2014-03-09}}] After the race, Eddery, who had already announced that he would retire at the end of the season, said "I'd tried to win it for the last 25 years and been placed in it quite a bit but never actually won it. It's hard to get on the right horse but luckily I was on the right one".[{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Champions+Day%3A+Eddery+on+a+high+as+Landing+Light+fills+gap+in+record%3B...-a0109013865 |title=Champions Day: Eddery on a high as Landing Light fills gap in record |author=Bill Barber |work=Racing Post|date=20 October 2003 |accessdate=2014-03-09}}] Landing Light suffered from leg problems in the later part of 2003 and missed all of the 2004/2005 season. He was officially retired from racing in July 2005.[{{cite news|last=Staff|title=Henderson calls time on Landing Light career|newspaper=BreakingNews.ie|date=28 July 2005}}]
==Pedigree==
{{Pedigree
|name = Landing Light (IRE), bay gelding, 1995
1986
|m = Gay Hellene (IRE)
1982
|ff = [Sadler's Wells](/source/Sadler's_Wells_(horse)) (USA)
1981
|fm = [High Hawk](/source/High_Hawk) (IRE)
1980
|mf = [Ela-Mana-Mou](/source/Ela-Mana-Mou) (IRE)
1976
|mm = [Gaily](/source/Gaily_(horse)) (USA)
1971
|fff = [Northern Dancer](/source/Northern_Dancer)
|ffm = Fairy Bridge
|fmf = [Shirley Heights](/source/Shirley_Heights_(horse))
|fmm = Sunbittern
|mff = [Pitcairn](/source/Pitcairn_(horse))
|mfm = Rose Bertin
|mmf = [Sir Gaylord](/source/Sir_Gaylord)
|mmm = Spearfish
|ffff = [Nearctic](/source/Nearctic_(horse))
|fffm = [Natalma](/source/Natalma)
|ffmf = [Bold Reason](/source/Bold_Reason)
|ffmm = Special
|fmff = [Mill Reef](/source/Mill_Reef)
|fmfm = Hardiemma
|fmmf = Sea Hawk
|fmmm = Pantoufle
|mfff = [Petingo](/source/Petingo)
|mffm = Border Bounty
|mfmf = High Hat
|mfmm = Wide Awake
|mmff = [Turn-To](/source/Turn-To)
|mmfm = Somethingroyal
|mmmf = Fleet Nasrullah
|mmmm = Alabama Gal (Family: 11)