Good luck Nate! New era at Lincoln Farms as stable junior joins in training partnership

From Kidz Kartz to a training partnership at Lincoln Farms, that’s the remarkable progression for Nathan Delany who on Wednesday will join Ray Green at the helm of one of the country’s strongest stables.

Delany, 24, gets to share the top job at Lincoln Farms a decade after his first introduction to racehorses, a real stamp of confidence from Green and stable owners John and Lynne Street.

“I’m not going into retirement,” says Green who has trained 510 winners of $8.5 million in stakes. “I’m still the boss but I’m 79 and no spring chicken. I just need to need to take a little step back and relax a bit.”

Green says nothing much will change at Lincoln Farms’ Pukekohe barn, it will be business as usual.

“I still enjoy the job but you become a prisoner to it and I just don’t want it to be so intense.

“I’ve discovered the art of delegation and Nathan will just take a bit of pressure off me.”

Ray Green with Lincoln Farms’ owner John Street whose passion is to help youngsters in the game.Green says he was impressed by the way Delany stepped up on their recent Canterbury campaign, giving him the confidence to leave The Big Lebowski in his care and return to Auckland.

“He’s quite a fastidious young man and a pretty efficient operator. He’s had a good grounding in the business with big teams, both here and over numerous years with Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan. He doesn’t need any schooling on that.”

Joining in a partnership would give Delany the opportunity to establish himself as a trainer, says Green.

“John is all about giving these youngsters a leg up and Nathan is good to work with.”

Street has already helped Zachary Butcher and Andre Poutama establish their own teams at Lincoln Farms, while still calling on their help when needed. And with talented junior Monika Ranger, foreman Andy Sharpe and his brother Craig, and Jimmy Stephens, the team works well, says Green.

“But we’ve got about 35 horses here, and work 25 on average, so it will be good to have someone to share the load.”

In good health

Green says he’s in good health after a real scare two years ago when hospitalised after being kicked in the stomach by a young horse.

“It was hard coming back from that injury but you can’t lay down and fade away. I can do anything I want to physically now, I drive horses every day, but I don’t shoe them any more.

“I just need to button off a bit. I can’t remember when I last had a holiday, I wouldn’t actually know what to do on one. The last time was probably when I was trapped in Australia during Covid, but I was still working.”

Green says there are no immediate holiday plans, his wife Debbie already “living the dream” with her animals and birds and tied to their Tuakau home.

“But it will be nice to go fishing every now and then, I used to go out with Tony Herlihy.”

Delany salutes on Captain Nemo: “There are a lot of good drivers out there so it’s hard to make a name for yourself.”Lucky

Delany knows how lucky he is to get the opportunity at Lincoln Farms with 42 driving wins and one training success to his name.

“It’s a hard game to get into, especially if you don’t have a family in racing.

“I came here straight from school at the age of 14. School wasn’t my go and I wasn’t even going in the end. I thought working at the stable was better than doing nothing.”

Delany’s first experience behind a horse was as a Kidz Kartz driver but he found the ponies too small.

After two and a half years of working with the real thing at Lincoln Farms, Delany spread his wings, flying to Australia where he worked in a stable in Adelaide.

“But I didn’t like it at all, got homesick, and came back after a week and a half.”

Luckily, his return coincided with an opening at the Clevedon stable of leading trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.

“Barry and Scotty are so professional and I stayed there for two and a half years before doing another two years with Dave and Clare McGowan at Pukekohe.”

Delaney has been back at Lincoln Farms now for long enough to know his future lies in training, not driving.

“There are a lot of good drivers out there so it’s hard to make a name for yourself. I might drive the odd one in the future but I prefer training. You see all the young ones come through, get them from an early age, and break them in. I enjoy that more and have two of my own I’m working.”

Delany says he’s looking forward to the new year with Lincoln Farms having a number of nice young horses in work.

He believes his patience will stand to him in the education process.

“You have to take your time. You can’t get angry with them. You know what to expect from colts and just go with them.”

But, no, he can’t name a favourite.

“There are no pets here, they’re all the same.”