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Nearer The Dragon is a neat looking colt but he never grew. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.

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.”

Our runners this week

Saturday night at Albion Park

Argyle.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 1: Lincoln La Moose
5.43pm

“Drawn well, he should get a good trip and be the one to beat. He got held up at Cambridge last time and these amateur races are easier to win.”

Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.43pm

“The form line doesn’t show it but he actually went ok last time, they just sprinted and left him flat-footed. He’ll go his usual honest race.”

Race 2: Angelic Copy
6.16pm

“She and Linda train and trial together and are much more forward than the others. She’s a proper little tradesman who can do whatever you want and she tries hard.”

Race 2: Prince Lincoln
6.16pm

“He’s not as forward as the fillies. He’s still learning and can do nothing but improve.”

Race 2: Lincoln Lover
6.16pm

“He’s another who will benefit from the experience but he’s by Bettor’s Delight and they tend to lift their game when the money’s up.”

Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.16pm

“She has a bit of speed but is not as tractable as Linda - she doesn’t handle the corners quite as well and might be a little better left-handed. But she’s as good as any of them at the moment and, in the small field, should get her chance.”

Race 2: Lincoln Linda
6.16pm

“Though drawn the outside, she should really be the one to beat, based on her trial. She’s quite a strong filly, who is well gaited and should go forward. Maurice (McKendry) has driven her two or three times and he likes her.”

Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.08pm

“He should be dangerous against what is not a wonderful bunch. He trialled well, a nose behind Lewey Maguire (home in 56.4). All three of mine are nice horses and should be right there.”

Race 4: Tyson
7.08pm

“He was laying in on the corners last time at Cambridge and it was just a sprint home. He needs to be driven a bit more aggressively - he’s gone his best races when he’s been put in the race. Remember he sat parked when third to Arna’s good one (Chase Me) in December. He can tough it.”

Race 4: Colonel Lincoln
7.08pm

“He’s training down well, as good as you could expect. He’s done nothing wrong in three starts back. The outside draw is an inconvenience but, when he slots in, he won’t be far off them.”

Race 7: Kevin Kline
8.38pm

“He got held up last time and the winner got away on him. He should get a nice trip from one. He’ll go another honest race and will be in it for a while.”

Race 7: Debbie Lincoln
8.38pm

“She could be quite a nice filly. The way she’s developing I think she’ll be competitive against the better fillies later in the year. She’s quite versatile and can race tough. She has a lot of potential.”

Race 7: Frisco Bay
8.38pm

“He’d be on a par with Debbie for speed but he can get a bit carried away. Hopefully he can get a nice suck into it. I can’t fault the way they’re training and whichever of the two gets the best trip should win.”

Race Images - Harness