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.
More news in Harness
$101 winner Lincoln Wave has improved and is worth following in Friday’s derby lead-up
OK Sammy, lightning bolts aside, Ray’s relying on you to do things right this time
Lincoln Dealer has the genes but not the barrier draw for Cambridge debut
HRNZ boss Brad Steele resigns after less than two years; chairman praises his work
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
