Squire successful on hurdle debut
Jess de Lautour • June 15th, 2025 3:50 PM
Matamata hurdler Squire commenced his jumping career in the best possible fashion at Te Rapa on Saturday, coming out on top in a tight tussle in the Waikato/BOP Owners Association Hurdle (2800m).
The son of Savile Row broke through maiden grade just over a year ago in the care of part-owner Karen Fursdon, who entrusted Peter and Jessica Brosnan with the gelding as he switched to racing over fences.
After trialling well at Cambridge, Squire stepped out on debut in the hands of Joshua Parker, who restrained the four-year-old back in the second half of the field through the early stages. He was one of a number of first-starters in the race, but the field put on a professional display of jumping as they streamed along the home straight for the first time.
The market-elect Sir Maverick and Doctor Iris were on speed throughout and started to dial up the pressure at the 800m, and they had a fight on their hands, with Mr Fahrenheit, Hayate and Squire firing into contention.
Mr Fahrenheit hit the lead over the final fence and looked like the winner, but sneaking through the inside was Squire, who powered up at the line to score by a short head.
Parker, who had been victorious in last Saturday’s Manawatu Hurdles (2500m) aboard Billy Boy, was complimentary of his charge.
“I’m over the moon, it’s great to get a win for Jess and Peter as they’re great supporters of mine,” he said.
“He was quite keen to start with and I needed to get a bit of cover, and as soon as he got a bit of daylight, Jess said to me that he got a bit lazy at the 400m last time at Te Aroha. I just kept him up to his work and he didn’t show any sign of slowing up there.
“His jumping was pretty darn good, I was very happy with it. We muddled up the last one, but we got over it and got away from it.”
An elated Jessica Brosnan indicated the stable had always rated Squire, it was just whether he could put together a complete performance on the day.
“He didn’t get it easy today, and we’re just rapt,” she said. “We knew he was capable of it, he just needed to get his act together really.
“It’s been a tough couple of weeks in our household, but he did it for us and we’ve put a lot of effort into that horse. I’m so pleased for the owners, one of them hasn’t had a winner in 30 years so there we go, we’ve done it for them.
“He’s just learned some tricks over the last couple of years, he just bludges a bit. We said to Josh, you’re going to have to ride him hard, and he did.”
Bred by Karen and Kevin Fursdon, who race him alongside the Brosnans and the Squire Syndicate, Squire is out of Lucky Unicorn mare Silk Chardonnay, a winner of six races. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
