Beginning his preparation back in April and
Given a sweet bride by Craig Williams, Dr Drill (Dansili) was one out and three back in the run before being set alight approaching the home turn then going on to win by one and three-quarter lengths from the outsider Naivasha (Starcraft) with Captain Cook (GB) (Dunawi) a short-neck back in third.
"He's just one of those horses going through his grades, he's been in work a long time but he's loving what he is doing and he is just so genuine and I thought today when he dropped to that weight I thought he had a great chance," Maher said.
"Craig gave him a great ride. He's been a credit to the team he's been up to Sydney a couple of times and he takes a bit of maintenance.
"We thought he might be a good Ballarat Cup horse. He has been up for a while. I was a little concerned, we had to go to this race because it just looked the right race for him but we normally stretch him a little bit more between runs so he has done a great job. He is just so versatile so maybe on to the Ballarat Cup."
The 5yo son of Dansili advances his record to 6 wins, 6 seconds and 2 thirds from 19 starts with earnings of $558,040.
An 85,000 gns purchase at the 2017 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale, Dr Drill is a half-brother to Listed winner Pinzolo (Monsun) and the stakes-placegetters Materialistic (Oasis Dream) and Poplin (Medicean) out of the Group II Lancashire Oaks winner and Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Pongee (Barathea) from the family of Group 1 winner Chiquita (Montjeu) and Melbourne Cup hero Rekindling (High Chaparral).
Dr Drill becomes the 139th stakes-winner for Juddmonte Farm's veteran Danehill stallion Dansili (pictured) who was pensioned last year due to declining fertility.
