Jasprit Trouble wins at odds for the Heenans

The Mike Heenan trained and driven Jasprit Trouble (Superfast Stuart), got up to win his first race at long odds at Oamaru yesterday.

Driven by Heenan the harness racing three year old beat another outsider Engaged by a nose with the quinella paying $806.20.

Parked for a good deal of the trip before slotting into the one one Jasprit Trouble came out three wide just before straightening for the run home and just got up to win.

The Superfast Stuart gelding is owned by Heenan and wife Diane and is out of Sunny Maree.

JASPIRIT TROUBLE REPLAY

“We borrowed the mare from Fred Fletcher – it’s a terrific breed. She qualified and Fred said she was a bit rattle headed, but a fast mare and worth breeding from,” Mike said.

The Hennan’s were keen on breeding a filly from the mare but ended up getting a string of colts which they either sold or raced. 

The first foal out of the mare was Wee Man Trouble.

“We borrowed the mare from Fred Fletcher – it’s a terrific breed. She qualified and Fred said she was a bit rattle headed, but a fast mare and worth breeding from,” Mike said.

The Hennan’s were keen on breeding a filly from the mare but ended up getting a string of colts which they either sold or raced. 

The first foal out of the mare was Wee Man Trouble.

He won six races for Southland trainer Kirstin Green and Tank Ellis before heading to Australia where he’s won a further eight races. His wins in Australia include the Group One D.J.A Memorial at Albion Park when driven by further Southlander Adam Sanderson and the Group One Queensland Trotter Cup when driven by Luke Whittaker. 

“He was born premature, and it was three or four days before he could get up. He was a brave wee fella. We sold him for about $4,000 and he’s gone on and done a good job.”

Jasprit Trouble which is named after Indian fast bowler Jasprit Jasbirsingh Bumrah.

“Di and I both like cricket. Our kids both play. Trouble is we don’t get much time to see them play.”

Jasprit Trouble qualified at Rangiora at the end of August and prior to yesterday’s win had run fourth at Banks Peninsula and an unlucky fifth at Methven in his only two starts. 

“I think if things had gone his way, he was capable of winning both his first two starts. At Methven he didn’t trot that well. He galloped early and trotted rough a couple of times but he still made up a lot of ground so he shouldn’t have paid what he did yesterday.” 

When driving Heenan doesn’t carry a whip and the horse wears fixed deafeners.

“I don’t think he needs to be chased and we just want him to get his confidence. I try and think long term as much as I can.”

Heenan says he may consider racing Jasprit Trouble in the New Zealand Trotting Derby. 

“He’s a wee bit temperamental but I know he’ll get better.”

The Heenan’s also stand Superfast Stuart at their Methven property and Mike says it’s likely that the stallion will cover about twenty mares.

“He may get a few more because of the breeding incentives. We did think about passing him onto Australia because a lot of his better ones are there.”

The ‘Trouble’ part of the horse’s name comes from Diane’s father the late Muir Thomson who farmed at Mimihau near Wyndham.

He bred from a Conga Song mare named Trouble. She left two good horses which Muir raced – Dee Pee (Hundred Proof) and Young Trouble (Young Charles). Both won seven races.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink