Target to raise before retiring (7)

I believe the answer is:

cockshy

'target' is the definition.
(cockshy can mean a target for throwing sticks at)

'raise before retiring' is the wordplay.
'raise' becomes 'cock' (eg a dog can cock his leg).
'before' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'retiring' becomes 'shy' (I've seen this in another clue).
'cock'+'shy'='COCKSHY'

'to' is the link.

(Another definition for cockshy that I've seen is " target".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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