A pearler of a ride by Keagan Latham paved the way for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace Dr Drill (GB) to stave off the chasing pack in a thrilling finish to Friday’s $160,000 Listed Scone Cup (1600m).
Travelling sweetly in fourth place on the rails, Latham eased Dr Drill (GB) around the leaders Royal Tudor and Chief Ironside (GB) in the straight before holding off Phaistos (Helmet) by a short-neck with Sambro (Fastnet Rock) a head back in third.
Less than a length separated the sixth across the line.
Assistant trainer Annabel Neasham said the stable was hoping to redeem itself after their only other Scone Cup starter Age Of Fire finished last 12 months ago.
“We were quite confident this was his sort of race. It was beautiful ride by Keagan, I said to just cuddle him as last start I think we rode him a little bit wrong over 1400 metres when he was at his top the whole way,” Neasham told Sky Racing.
“Up to the mile he travelled much better and it was a great ride.
“He’s got a really good turn of foot, he is a great horse. He was a mile and a half horse in Europe but Ciaron does a great job with these European horses in getting some speed into their legs and he has produced over all sorts of trips now.”
Winner of the Listed Cranbourne Cup last October, the 5yo son of Dansili advances his record to 7 wins, 6 seconds and 3 thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $668,440.
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 Mackinnon Stakes winner Magic Wand (Galileo), Group 1 winner Chiquita (Montjeu) and Melbourne Cup hero Rekindling (High Chaparral).
Dr Drill is one of 142 stakes-winners for Juddmonte Farm's Danehill stallion Dansili who was pensioned in 2018 due to declining fertility.
