Obadiah Dragon (Nathan Delany) outfinishes Bettor Grunter on Tuesday. PHOTO: Jack McKenzie.
Dragon breathes fire again at Manawatu and there look to be more wins in store
By Barry Lichter • 13 March 2024
Obadiah Dragon’s owners know he’s no champion but the way he scored at Manawatu on Tuesday suggested he has more wins in store.
And though he steps up in class and distance there on Thursday night Ian Middleton and his mates Ian Harris and Paul Humphries are looking forward to seeing how he fares.
Middleton, Lincoln Farms’ business manager, was taken by the toughness Obadiah Dragon showed to overcome a tough trip, back and wide then forced to improve even wider round the home turn.
So to outfinish 90-start veteran Bettor Grunter by a neck and record the fastest of five races run over 2000 metres on the night wasn’t the worst effort.
His 2:29.4 clocking in the rating 35 to 44 field was 0.8 of a second faster than Avenger ran in the rating 44 to 49 event and easily quicker than the tightest class race of the night when now 16-race winner Superstar Legend did best in a 2:34.1 four-horse walk-fest.
Nathan Delany brings Obadiah Dragon back. PHOTO: Jack McKenzie.“He had a terrible trip and was still good enough to still get the job done,” Middleton said. “On that, I don’t see why he couldn’t win a few more races.
“Ray (Green) always said he was a nice little horse who would win races given time and, while he ain’t no champion, he’s a much better horse this time in.
“He settles well so I don’t think an extra 500 metres will worry him on Thursday.”
Middleton said while his partners were thrilled with the win, following on from his 15-length annihilation on the course last November, the three-year-old Fear The Dragon colt’s future probably lay in Australia.
“He’s on the market, like all our horses, and if he’s not sold we’ll more than likely send him to Brisbane. I think he’s got enough speed to stick with them.”
Driver Nathan Delany gets barrier five on Thursday night, one further out, and meets a useful field of rating 46 to 52 horses.
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Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
5.44pm
“From a good front line draw Harry can run off the gate and find the front. He’s shown he’s got the speed to get there. And if he can go 2:42 again, or quicker, I thought he’d be a very good winning chance. It’s an easier field than the one he beat last time. He’s trained well this week.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.09pm
“She goes down to Cambridge for the first time so it’s a big drop in class. She also goes a lot better left-handed so I thought from the good draw she could run top three.”
Race 3: Lincoln Maree
6.34pm
“She paced a 1:56.7 mile in beating the amateurs last start but it looks like she’ll need a bit of luck from the draw this time. The two inside her like to lead so she could end up three fence or outside them. I’ll leave it up to Harry to get the right trip.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.34pm
“He’s a place chance. He likes bowling along but from five it’s hard to say where he’ll end up. He’s very consistent and he paced 2:42.3 last time so I can absolutely see him in the money.”
Race 6: Lincoln Linda
8.04pm
“She was in a very strong R40 to R48 race last time at Auckland against horses like Alecto, All Of Me and Cyclone Rebel, and she clocked 2:41.1, so back to Cambridge where she won her first race, and a much easier R38 to R40 field, she’s got to be a good winning chance. She’s best in front if Fergie can get there.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
4.42pm
“I’m not holding my breath with him. We won’t count that last run, when the leader went ballistic and he couldn’t get into the race, but he’s not well placed here.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.09pm
“She’s racing really well and this looks a bit easier than last time when she was trapped in the breeze in a strong field. I can’t see how she won’t be right in the fight.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
7.34pm
“I didn’t know what to expect on debut but she was very brave. I’m picking she’ll go well again but she’ll need a bit of luck - drawn the second line we’re at the mercy of others. We’ll poke her out and see. At least she won’t get parked this time.”
Race 10: Lincoln Wave
9.07pm
“We’re racing the best horses now but he’ll definitely go better than last time. Tony (Herlihy) said he felt super across the top but once in the straight he flattened out, which I half expected. I had him scoped afterwards just to make sure he was all right but he was short of a run, that’s all.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
9.07pm
“He went super when third last week and Fergie said just wait ’til he gets over 2700 metres, he’ll be a monster. He’s turned into a proper racehorse. From four there’ll be a bit of urgency early and hopefully he can get a suck along and get some of it.”
