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
Tuesday at Auckland
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
3.39pm
“He’s a beautiful horse, and a quality mover, who’s finally demonstrating his ability. He’s done a lot of work and has had a good, solid build-up so he’ll cop a bit of racing now and I don’t see why he won’t be in it again.”
Race 2: Frisco Bay
3.39pm
“If you put him in front or in the breeze he over-races. He needs a run where he can relax in behind - every time he’s got a two-hole trip he’s won. He’s a bit one-dimensional in that respect but he’s got a lot of speed and, if he’d drawn better, I’d have labelled him.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lou
4.04pm
“On paper, he should be favourite. You can’t fault that last run in the Golden Gait and if he repeats that he’s the one to beat. He seems to be back to where we had him before. He’s been incredibly unlucky in a lot of his races. We don’t need good luck, we’re just looking for no bad luck.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
4.04pm
“I can’t see him beating our other two. I don’t think we’ll see the best of him until well into his three-year-old year. He’s a big, rangy, slow developing horse. We’ll race him on Tuesday then give him a bit of a break.”
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
4.04pm
“I know this is a step-up in grade, and she’s drawn the outside, but I’ve got a feeling she could be up to it. Her driver, Maurice McKendry, is very enthusiastic about her and he’s no fool. He’s been happy every time he’s sat behind her. She keeps getting better and potentially could be a high class three-year-old filly. I’m quite excited about her.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
4.30pm
“He won’t burn off any quick beginners but he showed he could hold his own from the inside when he won two starts back. He’s just got to do it without doing anything tricky. He can pace roughly, he’s not the complete package yet, but when the penny drops he’ll be a serious horse.”
Race 9: The Big Lebowski
7.17pm
“I wasn’t disappointed with his last run. It’s hard to win those races from long back marks at Cambridge - Copy That had to go a New Zealand record to do it. He’s as good as he can be at the moment but these are the best horses in commission and we’ll be grateful for what we can get.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.38pm
“She can get some of it. She has a good draw so should get a good trip. She’s training on well.”
Race 4: Commander Lincoln
7.09pm
“The draw doesn’t matter with him as he’s not one to leave the gate. I thought he went super last time. He got home really well and was unlucky not to run second or even win.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.33pm
“Forget that last run. He half choked when Zac tried to restrain him and started pulling. He’s got a better draw this time, should hop straight into the trail, and hopefully get home as well as when he won the time before.”
