Ballarat Cup 2019: Dr Drill chases second consecutive country Cup

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable earmarked Dr Drill as their ideal candidate for the Ballarat Cup some time ago and the stayer is on track to deliver the goods in the $500,000 feature. Plus Michael Manley’s quaddie analysis.

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The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable identified Dr Drill as their ideal candidate some time ago as the horse which could land them the $500,000 Ballarat Cup at their first attempt as a local stable.

“It would be nice,” Eustace said. “We’ve got a big footprint here with our stable and our stable workers are all from Ballarat so it would be nice.”

Maher and Eustace took over Darren Weir’s stables when he was disqualified in February. Eustace said they were also attracted by the $500,000 on offer for the race.

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Dr Drill will aim to add the Ballarat Cup to his victory in the Cranbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

“$500,000 is a lot of money and it’s like winning a Group 1 race and he’s contesting an open handicap,” he said.

Eustace said Dr Drill is owned in Hong Kong and as a result they didn’t have any pressure to run him over the spring carnival so owners could watch him live.

“The lure of watching him run at the carnival didn’t apply to him so we could sit back and take our time with him,” he said. “Most of his rivals have had a busy time.”

Dr Drill hasn’t started since he won the $400,000 Cranbourne Cup six weeks ago. As soon as he returned to scale, Maher declared Dr Drill would have his next run in the Ballarat Cup.

Dr Drill has been in work for most of the year and Saturday will be his 11th start for the campaign. Eustace said that was another reason why they decided to freshen Dr Drill up for the Ballarat Cup. “He’ll probably have a break after Saturday and we can look towards the autumn,” he said.

The stable also has first emergency Etana in the race. Dr Drill is $3.70 with TAB fixed odds. Favourite is second emergency Harbour Views at $3.30.

FEATURE FOCUS

BALLARAT CUP

THE FACTORS

Track: Good 4. Rail: True. Weather: 20C.

BEST CHANCES

DR DRILL ($3.70)

Didn’t have things go his way in the Cranbourne Cup as he was forced to race wide on the tight-turning circuit and still won. He hasn’t raced since while his rivals have had a busy time. From barrier one with Craig Williams on he’s going to take some beating.

HARBOUR VIEWS ($3.30)

He’s second emergency but if he gained a run would be the horse to beat. He suffered his first defeat in six starts when second in the Country Final at Flemington where he was unlucky over 1600m. He’ll relish 2000m.

FIFTY STARS ($5)

Put in the best two runs of his career during Cup Week with a second in the Cantala Stakes and then a fifth in the Mackinnon Stakes behind Magic Wand. That’s great form for a Ballarat Cup but the question will be how much that took out of him.

Fifty Stars has been in great form this spring, including a second in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes. Picture: AAP

SUZUKA DEVIOUS ($13)

Japanese galloper who has run on well in his two Australian starts. The last one was in the Mackinnon Stakes where he finished seventh behind Magic Wand. Drawn out but he’ll get back and try and sprint over the top if his rivals.

KIWIA ($15)

Last year’s winner who has been set for this. Showed he was on track for his title defence with a good third in the Coongy Cup behind Wolfe. Dropped back from 2000m to 1800m when fifth last start at Flemington behind Yulong Prince over 1800m.

DOUBLE YOU TEE ($9)

Just failed to make it five straight wins on end when beaten narrowly by Midterm in the Kyneton Cup. Third in that race was Pacodali who won the Eclipse Stakes. He drops three kilos on that run.

ROUGHIE

RUNAWAY ($81)

Fitter for two runs back from a spell. Third up last year he won the Geelong Cup. Even though he’s drawn out, they’ll push for the lead and horses who ran in that style can take catching at Ballarat.

THE SPEED

RUNAWAY should have little trouble crossing to lead. FIFTY STARS and DR DRILL should take up forward positions.

Runaway should lead and give plenty of cheek in the Ballarat Cup. Picture: Stephen Harman

HISTORY SAYS

Last year Kiwia won it when it was held over 2200m. This year it will be run over 2000m.

THE TRAINER: DAVID EUSTACE

DR DRILL (R8, No.5 $3.70)

“We’ve set him for this. He likes his races spaced and we’re expecting a big run as we attempt to win our first local Cup.”

THE BET STRATEGY

Back DR DRILL the win but split the bet if HARBOUR VIEWS can gain a start.

THE TIPS

1. DR DRILL

2. Harbour Views

3. Fifty Stars

4. Suzuka Devious

FOUR $50 BETS FOR BALLARAT

RACE 2

$50 WIN BAM’S ON FIRE (3) at $2.10

Talented mare who won successive races at Caulfield last preparation before finishing third behind Gytrash at Flemington. She performed well in a recent jumpout at Sandown. She’ll be suited by the fast pace in this. Also she’ll be aided by the two kilos claim from Teo Nugent.

RACE 3

$50 WIN DEFIBRRILATE (4) at $3.70

Son of Shocking who looks a stayer of the future. The former Kiwi has now won four of his five starts including his past two since joining the Patrick Payne stable. On each occasion he sat back and encircled the field to go on for a comfortable win.

RACE 8

$50 win DR DRILL (5) at $3.70

Just after he won the Cranbourne Cup the stable said he would have his next run in the Ballarat Cup and they’ve been true to their word. He sat wide throughout but was still able to win. From barrier one he should get a great run. Obviously if Harbour Views gets a run it’s a much tougher proposition.

RACE 9

$25 each-way KING OF HASTINGS (R9, No.7) at $5 win/$1.90 the place

Looks a great each-way bet. He’s had five starts for two wins and three seconds and in each of those losses he had excuses. Also in one of them he finished second to his stablemate the subsequent Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth.

King Of Hastings is great each-way value in race nine. Picture: Getty Images

BALLARAT QUADDIE

LEG 1: RACE 7

Tough way to kick off the Quaddie. MARCEL FROM MADRID (5) finished on resolutely to win over 1300m at Ararat last start. Looks like he’s ready for 1400m. BRAVO TANGO (1) has top-weight and the outside barrier but is too good to leave out. OVER EXPOSURE (6) has the talent to win this first-up. If CRITICAL THINKING (8) can lead he’ll take beating. ADVERSARY (17) is a promising horse.

First Leg: 1,5,6,8,17

LEG 2: RACE 8

Several chances headed by last start Cranbourne Cup winner DR DRILL (5), the exciting prospect HARBOUR VIEWS (18) if he gets in and also FIFTY STARS (1) are musts. Japanese visitor SUZUKA DEVIOUS (2) has done enough in his two Australian starts to be an inclusion. Last year’s winner KIWIA (4) should also go in. DOUBLE YOU TEE (12) is racing well.

Second Leg: 1,2,4,5,12,18

LEG 3: RACE 9

KING OF HASTINGS (7) is a must have as he’s had five starts for two firsts and three seconds. He’s been competitive against horses of the calibre of Super Seth. LI’L KONTRA (11) finished fourth at Group 1 level last start at Flemington. HAWKER HURRICANE (6) and AKKADIAN (2) both finished third at Flemington during Cup Week.

Third Leg: 2,6,7,11

LEG 4: RACE 10

Happy to come home with three horses. Lindsey Smith’s GREAT AGAIN (1) debuts in Victoria. He’s a high class sprinter with nine wins from 20 starts. MILWAUKEE (2) rarely runs a bad race and was only swamped in the closing stages when first-up third at Flemington. ESPERANCE (16) finished on well for second at Flemington.

Fourth Leg: 1,2,16

$100 flexi for 27.77 per cent

SKINNY QUADDIE

Stick with the same quintet in the first leg. In the second leg take DR DRILL (5) and HARBOUR VIEWS (18) but as second emergency he’s not assured of a run. In the third leg take the brilliant three-year-old’s KING OF HASTINGS (7) and LI’L KONTRA (11). In the final leg take former top WA sprinter GREAT AGAIN (1) and the consistent MILWAUKEE (2).

FIRST LEG: 1,5,6,8,17

SECOND LEG: 5,18

THIRD LEG: 7,11

FOURTH LEG: 1,2

$25 flexi for 62.5%

Originally published as Ballarat Cup 2019: Dr Drill chases second consecutive country Cup