Last foal of gun mare wins at Australian debut

By Peter Wharton

Obadiah Dragon, the last foal of the Falcon Seelster mare Lillian, a prominent member of one of the best families in the New Zealand stud book, made an auspicious winning debut on Australian soil at Menangle on October 26.

Obadiah Dragon returns to scale after winning at Menangle – Club Menangle photo

Starting from the outside gate, the Fear The Dragon three-year-old was taken off the arm and settled down last in the 10-horse field. With 500 metres to run he was still 30 metres from the leaders, and his chance could have been written off, but he mounted a spectacular finishing flourish down the outside to prevail in the last stride.

The gelding rated 1:56.3 for 2300 metres including a flying 55.9 seconds last 800.

Obadiah Dragon was bred by Macca Lodge, the renowned Northern Southland breeding, agistment and pre-training establishment conducted by Brent McIntyre, his wife Sheree and son Caine since 2008.

“We bought Lillian off Tuapeka Lodge when they were clearing several of their breeding stock. She was a relatively old mare when we purchased her,” Brent recalled.

Lillian produced eight foals for Tuapeka Lodge for six winners by five different stallions.

Obadiah Dragon as yearling

The best of her produce was Caesar’s Folly, a Christian Cullen gelding who reached top class. Caesar’s Folly won 35 races and $398,703 in stakes and took a mile record of 1:52.4 at Albion Park.

Others from Lillian were Lawrence (1:51.6), a winner in NZ, Western Australia and America, the NSW Listed winner Tuapeka Glory (1:52.1), Tuapeka Tiz (1:57.6) and Petra’s Star (1:56.9), a sister to Caesar’s Folly.

Petra’s Star became the dam of Galactic Star (1:52), a four-time Group winner and dual Inter Dominion heat winner of $833,554, and the exported Tuapeka Trick (1:52).

Obadiah Dragon is the eleventh foal out of Lillian, who died a couple of years ago.

Sold by Macca Lodge for $27,000 at the NZ Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Christchurch in 2022, the gelding began his career with noted Pukekohe horseman Ray Green.

He won once with two placings from 11 starts as a two-year-old and twice with eight placings from 22 starts at three before being sold to NSW interests earlier this month.

The McIntyre’s have only one of Lillian’s offspring left in Rosa Parks, a four-year-old mare by Always B Miki.

“She’s a big mare who is in work with Hamish Hunter,” Brent said. “We hope to race her and then bred from her later.”

Lillian, who was unraced, was out of Marsa Star (1:59.5), by Smooth Fella from the outstanding racemare Tuapeka Star (1:59), by Knowing Bret from the broodmare gem

Sakuntala, and thus a member of the Norice family which has produced five Miracle Mile winners in Monkey King, Sokyola, Holmes DG, Iraklis and Mount Eden.