Obadiah Dragon powers home to catch Ideal Delight and J T Boe. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Ray: Obadiah Dragon just the honest pony to make someone in Australia very happy
By Barry Lichter • 10 August 2024
Obadiah Dragon’s win at Auckland on Friday night came as no surprise to Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green.
What does surprise him is the fact the three-year-old is still here and not racing in Australia “where he would make someone very happy.
“I can’t believe nobody wants to buy him - he’s a perfect horse for Aussie. He’s not a topliner but he’s a good, honest, tradesman-like horse who has plenty more wins left in him.
“He’s been closing in on a win for a while and getting a slot closer in the running this time made all the difference.”
Perfectly handled by stable driver Andre Poutama, Obadiah Dragon sat three back in the running line until unleashed turning for home, and maintained his run right to the line to score by half a neck.
“As long as you don’t burn him too early, he doesn’t go a bad race,” said Green of the gelding who clocked a sweet mile rate of 1:56 for the 1700 metres.
The win was his third and first at northern headquarters, taking his season record to two wins and five thirds, delivering on the promise Green made to his owners, Lincoln Farms’ business manager Ian Middleton and his mates Paul Humphries and Ian Harris.
“Ray kept on saying to me ‘don’t give up on him yet’,” Middleton said. “He’s definitely got stronger and he’ll win his share, it’s just a question of whether that share is big enough for us.
“We’ll either sell him to Australia or take him ourselves but if we get our price, he’s gone.”
Obadiah Dragon will now be hit with an eight point rating penalty and Green said it would soon become impossible to find suitable races for him in New Zealand.
“You can’t place them here any more but he’d have any number of options in Australia.”
Obadiah Dragon, who now has a bankroll of $38,723, was the first Down Under winner for Macca Lodge’s Ohio-based stallion Fear The Dragon when he scored by 15 lengths at Manawatu last November.
From very limited opportunities, the 2017 North American Cup winner now claims five individual winners here, including recent Addington two-year-old winner Aretha, along with another 19 in Australia.
Out of Tuapeka Lodge’s most successful family, tracing back to Sakuntala, Obadiah Dragon cost $27,000 as a yearling and was chosen by Green’s wife Debbie.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 5: Lincoln Lover
6.49pm
“You can’t fault what he’s done in his last four starts - he hasn’t missed a cheque. He’s raced at Auckland before as a two-year-old against good horses so it shouldn’t be too daunting for him. He’ll go an honest race, it’s just whether he’s good enough.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
7.57pm
Nathan Delany: “He had to trial on Tuesday after hitting the gate and breaking at Cambridge and I was happy with how he went. He ran Dear God to half a length in 2:38, and got home in 27.3. I’ll tell Harry to have one run at them and he should beat them for speed. Hopefully they run along a bit and he’ll sprint straight past them.”
Race 7: Lincoln Maree
7.57pm
“She lacks a bit of speed but she’s a rough chance.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.24pm
“It’s her first start for five months and she hasn’t trialled but she’s training well. She has plenty of ability and there’s nothing wonderful in the race. In the past she’s been her own worst enemy, a lunatic at times, but she seems more settled this time in. You could say I’m hopeful more than confident.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.24pm
“She has a bit of speed. She hasn’t been strong but seems to have developed a bit more this time in and is training quite well. I don’t think there’s much between her and Lincoln Linda.”
