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FIFA World Cup 2026 posterSquire on track for Waikato Hurdle
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • May 24th, 2026 2:16 pm
Squire (outside) on his way to winning the Sal’s Pizza Hamilton Hurdle (2800m) at Te Rapa on Sunday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Peter and Jessica Brosnan could be in for an exciting winter with Squire following his impressive victory in the Sal’s Pizza Hamilton Hurdle (2800m) at Te Rapa on Sunday.
The son of Savile Row had shown plenty of ability over hurdles last year, winning his maiden hurdle at Te Rapa in June before doubling his tally in an open hurdle at the Hamilton track a month later. He was subsequently runner-up in the Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3100m), and his trainers have high hopes for him this year.
Squire has been in pleasing form on the flat this preparation, winning one and placing in two of his last three starts, and TAB bookmakers opened him as favourite for Sunday’s feature hurdle, but he jumped a $3.40 second elect, with punters backing the Shaun Phelan-trained Pacheco into $2.10 favouritism.
With most of Squire’s form coming on Heavy tracks, his trainers were concerned with the Soft5 rating of Te Rapa on Sunday, but he thrived on the surface. Running three deep for the entire journey, he loomed ominously when turning for home, hitting the front shortly after and saw off the challenge of Roc Up Ralph to win by half a length.
“The track was our only worry because he has been racing out of his skin,” Peter Brosnan said. “He didn’t get an easy run today, he certainly covered some ground.”
The Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m) at Te Rapa on June 13 now looms as his first major assignment of the jumps season, and Brosnan said it is a race he would love to win.
“We would love to win the Waikato Hurdles, that has been his target, and we will look at something towards the end of the season after that,” Brosnan said.
“He is hard fit now, he won’t do much between now and three weeks (Waikato Hurdles). He might do a little bit of swimming. Once he is fit, he is fit, it’s just a matter of keeping him happy.”
