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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
Feature test for talented chasing mare
Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • June 13th, 2025 10:45 am
Jakama Krystal will contest the Signature Homes Waikato Steeplechase (3900m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. | Photo: Peter Rubery
Jakama Krystal was a quiet achiever in the steeplechasing role last season, and she’ll step up to the major leagues for the first time at Te Rapa on Saturday, taking on the Signature Homes Waikato Steeplechase (3900m).
Often effective in the lead, Jakama Krystal spaced her rivals on debut over the bigger fences last August and put on a similar display when winning the final race of the jumping season in September.
After enjoying her summer holiday, the nine-year-old returned to Peter and Jessica Brosnan’s Matamata stable and has appeared twice on the flat, including a second placing behind capable flat galloper Fourty Eight.
The daughter of Jakkalberry is the third-elect in the market behind Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal’s pair of The Cossack and Nedwin, and Jessica Brosnan is looking forward to kicking off her season in the feature.
“She’s a bit older now, but she’s feeling well, and you’ve got to be in it to win,” she said.
“She goes a little bit better fresh, I think she’s had one start there for a third, so she goes well at Te Rapa.
“She’s generally better suited at the tighter tracks, but we have to go where the jumping is and wing it a little bit in that regard.”
The Brosnans will be represented in two of the undercard jumping events, with Canulovemeagain contesting the Ken and Roger Browne Memorial (3900m), and Jake and Squire in the Waikato/BOP Owners Association Hurdle (2800m).
A half-brother to Group One performer Aspen Colorado, Canulovemeagain lost his jockey after jumping awkwardly late in the race at Te Aroha and has an in-form Corey Wiles in the saddle on this occasion.
“He’s doing well, I galloped him up our grass before and he’s feeling good,” Brosnan said. “I think he should make a steeplechaser.”
Both just four-year-olds, Jake and Squire are in the early stages of their careers over fences, but have pleased Brosnan ahead of their hurdle debut on Saturday.
“They’re only four, so anything they do this season will be a bonus,” Brosnan said. “They’re quite young to be doing it.
“Squire has a lot of natural ability, it’s just putting it together on the day and he’ll be away. He’s got a big group of owners that want to travel around the countryside and go have fun at the races.
“He’s a really nice horse, I’m just hoping that he can behave and control his excitement.
“We’ve had Jake for a few months, Mark (Brosnan) thought he would make a jumper and we’ve got the riders. He’s surprised us a little bit, he wasn’t the best jumper initially but once he started going over the hurdles, he was away.”
