Speedy Adelaide mare Obsidian Dragon continued her run of great form with a classy victory at Morphettville on December 10 – her second success in a row at the track.
Trained by David Balfour, the speedy, tough and talented four-year-old has won both times by wide margins – now boasting a prize money tally in excess of $286,000.
A seven times winner from 20 starts, Obsidian Dragon is part raced by Jeff Collins who was thrilled by her latest performance.
"It was a race in which we thought she may have been susceptible to a speed dual with the Darwin flying machine Dream Machine," he said – noting that that winner of six in a row was carrying 4.5kg less than Obsidian Dragon – "but she simply blew them away at the start."
"Once she got the lead I knew she'd be almost impossible to get past – she is such a fighter."
"She is a great advertisement for Hidden Dragon who is getting winners all over the place at the moment," he continued.
There are several options for Obsidian Dragon in the immediate future with a trip to Melbourne and/or the Gold Coast for the rich Magic Millions meeting a possibility.
Hidden Dragon raced in Hong Kong during an era heralded by many as "one of champions". The striking bay son of Danehill had the distinction of running Silent Witness to less than a length when finishing 2nd to the champion during his 17 race win streak - something very few horses managed to do, even at G1 level.
Lyndhurst Stud boasts a long tradition of standing stallions who prove to be prolific winner getters and they look to have found another in the shape of Hidden Dragon.
The sire of 48 winners from his first crop – including tough Victorian stakes winner Hollowlea and the speedy stakes placegetters Obsidian Dragon, Hidden Kisses and Steel Dragon – he has made a more than encouraging start.
Metropolitan winners are Saraji, Huff and Puff, Annette's Pumpkin, Feuer Drache, I'll Be Tricked, Hidden Babe, Penske Material.
And the best is still to come with Hidden Dragon proving extremely popular with Queensland breeders, last season serving his biggest book yet – a 196 strong harem.
Last season’s Queensland Champion First Season Sire and Champion 2YO Sire, Hidden Dragon already boasts progeny earnings in excess of $2.8 million and his progeny have fared very well in Singapore also – the likes of Moonlite Shower, Danzig Rocket, American Tycoon, Befledged and Tiger Warrior all showing excellent potential.
A $700,000 Easter yearling, Hidden Dragon was competitive in good company (on one occasion second to the mighty Silent Witness) over four seasons in Hong Kong.
Winning six races from 1000m to 1400m, he enjoyed a career highlight when taking out the Gr.3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup at Shatin.
A son of the mighty Danehill – a truly great sire of sires – Hidden Dragon hails from a highly successful local family, being a son of the triple Gr.1 winning mare Ballroom Babe. Also dam of the Gr.2 Furious Stakes winner Just Dancing and the Gr.2 McNeil Stakes winner Tahni Girl, Ballroom Babe is out of a half sister to the Gr.2 winner Reingard.
Another of her siblings is the dam of the dual Gr.1 winner Dandy Andy and she can also count amongst her relations the stakes winners Fence Postwal (Gr.1 Selangor Gold Cup), Balmeressa, River Chant, McGuane, Outlaws and Marquardt.
