TROUBLE SHOOTER. 08 February 2016. Delegator-Khibraat. Owner-T M Clarke.
We have one runner on Tuesday when Trouble Shooter has his second start for us at 4.40.pm, in a 0-75 Amateur Jockeys handicap over the extended one mile and five furlongs at Catterick, on what should be good to firm ground, with Becky Smith on board for the first time. Trouble Shooter was last seen on the all weather at Newcastle 45 days ago when never getting competitive in first time blinkers, which have quickly been dispensed with, and replaced by a visor which he has worn when winning on all five previous occasions back in 2019.
Trouble Shooter arrives at Oakwood stables as the winner of five of his 26 starts to date, having raced for three other trainers previously. He is a son of Delegator, who of course is also the sire of our stable star Cornerstone Lad, and our three times winner The Rutland Rebel. His dam is a daughter of the top class miler Alhaarth, who raced on three occasions back in 2007, but never got competitive. At stud she has produced six offspring that have seen a racecourse, including the 104 RPR rated flat performer Cavaleiro. Trouble Shooter didn't make his debut until August of his two year old season, and in five starts on the turf, and on the all weather, he never showed any real promise. In a first time visor, on his first visit to Southwell in February 2019, he finished fifth in handicap company, over seven furlongs, five and a half lengths behind the winner, from a mark of 54. His next five starts saw him finish within seven lengths of the winner each time, with a best finishing position of third. It was in June at Yarmouth on his 12th start, on heavy ground that he first got his head in front, over 10 furlongs, and from a mark of 46. Three days later at Wolverhampton, and stepping up to 14 furlongs for the first time, he finished a never nearer fifth, beaten by eight and a half lengths.Over the same trip at Chelmsford in early August, he proved he stays the distance, when running on late to be runner up. Trouble Shooter would now enter his golden period, as he won his next four starts, beginning at Thirsk on August 9th, where he won over 12 furlongs on soft ground,11 days later he followed up over the same trip on good ground at Chepstow. He stepped up to two miles at Kempton in September, and after running in snatches, he finished his race strongly, for a one length win. He completed the four timer on October 9th at Newcastle, when dropping in trip to the extended 12 furlongs, seeing his handicap mark climb from 48 to 71 for those four successes.His final start for his first trainer Shawn Keighley was two weeks later at Wolverhampton, where he finished a respectable fourth off of his new mark.