Thirteen Shivers details

I bought Thirteen Shivers as a foal from Tattersalls Sales in November 2008. A nice looking sort consigned by Cheveley Park Stud he was knocked down for just 2,000 gns. By Iceman out of the mare Thirteen Tricks his name doesn't need much further explanation. He is the only offspring of his dam to win.

We turned him out in the fields to grow and brought him in the following summer to break in and train as a two year old to run in the colours of Keith Wreglesworth and his partners. You'll all be familiar with the colours having seen them more recently carried by their old stalwart Pivotman.

He made his debut at York in the Rous Selling Stakes, a good place to blood two year olds. Written off by the bookmakers he was sent off at 100/1 and ran a decent race. Building on the experience he was a winner on his third racecourse outing when he was first home in the 'Carlisle Living Maiden Auction Stakes' over six furlongs. The handicapper walloped him with a mark of 79 and he signed off for 2010 with a good run at York where he finished fifth.

Thirteen Shivers finished second and third in his first two races as a three year old, and at that point we decided to drop him back to the minimum trip. It was at the York May meeting where he scored his biggest career win. We entered him for the 'Ralph Raper Memorial Stakes' over five furlongs and booked David Nolan to ride. He ran a great race that day, hitting the front a furlong out and staying on well to collect the £6,000 first prize. That day he wore such a big noseband it looked like there was a sheep coming down the straight on the Knavesmire. It was a soggy day that but nobody really bothered about the rain, and I had me brolly anyhow. His connections were present and we did some celebrating that night. We went to Akbar's Curry House where we sang the Thirteen Shivers song. "There's only one Thirteen Shivers, only one Thirteen Shivers. Walking along, singing a song, walking in a Shivers wonderland."

Shivers was raised six pounds for his win, but he defied the burden and was a winner again at Ripon just a month later. Jimmy Sullivan rode him that day when he beat Indian Ballad by half a length, again staying on nicely and getting the six furlongs without any problem.

Raised another four pounds for his troubles he ran up a series of places at Haydock, York and Thirsk but he now seemed firmly in the grasp of the handicapper.

Thirteen Shivers ran just five times in 2012, managing one placed effort at Haydock, and was retired after three runs as a five year old.

Thirteen Shivers ran 25 times, winning three times and being placed a further seven. He earned just short of £23,000.