Nearer The Dragon is a neat looking colt but he never grew. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
What to expect from the little Dragon who never grew at Cambridge on Tuesday night
By Barry Lichter • 23 September 2024
Don’t expect to see any any fire-breathing monster when Nearer The Dragon ($26, $3.50) debuts for Lincoln Farms at Cambridge on Tuesday night.
The three-year-old will be the smallest horses on the track when they parade for the third race.
“He’s a tiny fella,” said trainer Ray Green. “He’s still no bigger than when we bought him as a yearling.”
Green, who picked up the Fear The Dragon colt for just $14,000 at the sales in Christchurch in 2022, said being small and weak, he’s just needed time.
“He’s actually surprised me by getting this far but he won’t be the worst out there.
“He’s a good pacer, he has good manners and he tries hard. And he’s improving all the time.”
Green said it was hard to know what to expect from the colt but “he won’t be jumping out of the ground and blowing their socks off.”
Green said lack of size didn’t stop a champion like Chicago Bull and Nearer The Dragon has enough good performers in his pedigree to think he won’t be useless. His dam Getting Closer, who was by diminutive champion Courage Under Fire, was unraced but is a full sister to the good winner Holy Grail, who won 27 races, 10 in Western Australia and 16 in North America.
Getting Closer’s half sister Change Is Good also won eight races.
The biggest winner from the family, however, was the top class filly Lancome who numbered a Group I win among her 13 successes.
Nearer The Dragon’s progression this preparation is evident from his three workout runs, for fourth, second and third, and he led his sole rival home when winning a qualifying trial at Pukekohe last Thursday, clocking a 2:05.4 mile rate, home in 60.2 and 30.4.
“I think he’ll get round OK and if he can get a cheque that would be good.”
Regular Tuesday runners Im Not The Maid and Commander Lincoln are both place chances, according to Green.
Im Not The Maid ($14, $3) who draws four in the sixth race, will have tighter hopples on this time after galloping out of the gate two weeks ago.
“She’s perfect at home but she may have been a bit nervous with all the horses around her.
“She’s done pretty well to win a race already and, if she does things correctly, she’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Green said Commander Lincoln’s ($13, $3.10) six alley in the second race for amateurs is no real handicap for driver Andrew Sharpe.
“He gets back no matter what he draws as he doesn’t have a lot of gate speed. He’ll go another honest race and is always a place chance.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
