What to expect from the little Dragon who never grew at Cambridge on Tuesday night

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.”