Squirrel (horse)

Squirrel
Sire Traveller
Grandsire Partner
Dam Grey Bloody Buttocks
Damsire Bloody Buttocks
Sex Stallion
Foaled 1754
Country Great Britain
Colour Bay
Breeder William Cornforth
Owner Jenison Shafto
Record 9: 7-2-0
Major wins
1400 Guineas Stakes (1758)
120 gs at Newmarket (1758)
Match against Mystery (1759)
Match against Spider (1759)
Match against Dapper (1760)
Match against Jason (1761)

Squirrel (1754–1780) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He won seven of his nine races, including the 1400 Guineas Stakes and match races against Dapper and Jason. He was also a successful stallion, siring Craven Stakes winner Firetail. However he was more well known for producing broodmares, siring the dams of seven Classic winners including Derby winner Noble, along with the dam of champion sire Trumpator. Squirrel was owned by Jenison Shafto.

Background

Squirrel was a bay colt bred by William Cornforth and foaled in 1754.[1] He was sired by Traveller, who won several races. As a sire he served few mares until Dainty Davy, and Squirrel himself, made it to the racecourse and turned out to be good horses.[2] Squirrel's dam was Grey Bloody Buttocks, a daughter of Bloody Buttocks.[3] He was sold to Jenison Shafto.[4]

Racing career

Squirrel's first race was at Huntingdon, where he finished runner-up to Mr. Swinburn's Belford. In October 1758 in the first running of the 1400 Guineas Stakes over the four-mile, one-and-a-half furlong Beacon Course at Newmarket. He won the race, where the opposition included the Earl of Northumberland's Primrose and Mr. Panton's Posthumous. Later in the same meeting he beat Kiddleston, Standby, Crab, Shock, Bosphorus, Dormouse, Perseus and Rake to win 120 guineas. He returned to the track in May 1759, when he won a 300 guineas match race against Mr. Panton's Mystery over the Beacon Course. At York he finished second to Silvo and in October at Newmarket he beat Spider in a match race for 200 guineas over the Rowley Mile.[1]

At Newmarket in April 1760 be beat the Duke of Cumberland's Dapper over the Beacon Course for 500 guineas. In July he won the Ladies' Plate, which was run in four-mile heats, beating Juniper and Posthumous. In the spring of 1761 he easily beat Sir James Lowther's Jason in a match race of the Beacon Course worth 1000 guineas. Later in the spring he was due to face another of Lowther's horses, Barham, for another 1000 guineas match, but before the race he became lame in his fetlock and the race did not take place. He was then taken out of training and retired to stud.[1]

Stud career

Squirrel became a successful stallion and during his career at stud his progeny earned over £56,000 on the racecourse.[1] He stood at Packenham Hall in Suffolk[4] and his progeny included:

Squirrel died in 1780.[3]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Squirrel, bay stallion, 1754[3]
Sire
Traveller (GB)
1735		 Partner (GB)
1718		 Jigg Byerley Turk
Spanker mare
Sister to Mixbury Curwen's Bay Barb
Old Spot mare
Almanzor mare (GB) Almanzor
1713		 Darley Arabian
Old Hautboy mare
Grey Hautboy mare Grey Hautboy
Makeless mare
Dam
Grey Bloody Buttocks (GB)
1733		 Bloody Buttocks (GB) (unknown) (unknown)
(unknown)
(unknown) (unknown)
(unknown)
Greyhound mare (GB)
1716		 Greyhound Chillaby
Slugey
Pet Mare Wastell's Turk
Hautboy mare

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Pick, William; Johnson, R. (1803). The Turf Register (Volume I). A. Bartholoman, High-Ousegate.
  2. ↑ "Old Traveller". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  3. 1 2 3 The General Stud Book. J. S. Skinner, Baltimore. 1834. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Old Traveller - Squirrel". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  5. 1 2 Pick, William; Johnson, R. (1805). The Turf Register (Volume II). A. Bartholoman, High-Ousegate.
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