Yulong January ($9.50) put them in the winners' circle in the $125,000 Goldenvue Estate Benchmark84 Handicap, 1400m, on Saturday.

The four-year-old showed the Mitch Freedman-trained last-start Flemington winner Bravo Tango ($10) a clean pair of heels, hitting the line with a three-length margin. Notio ($21) was third.

Maher acquired Ballarat's Forest Lodge training complex next to Dowling Forest Racecourse early this year after Darren Weir was disqualified for four years - adding to his main base at Caulfield and Sydney stable.

Stewards noted after Yulong January's first-up fourth at Kyneton on November 6 that he had performed below market expectations.

Jockey Jye McNeil stated at the time that the gelding would derive benefit from the run and would be better suited in races over further than 1200m.

In the saddle again, McNeil's prediction proved spot on.

Maher said Yulong January had a good cruising speed and would possibly be suited over more ground as her matured.

His record now stands at four win in 10 starts for almost $240,000 in stakes.

FORMER West Australian trainer John Price rounded out the day with Williams Thomas ($8) landing the money in the $150,000 Hertz Ballarat Tonks Plate, 1200m.

It meant the Cranbourne five-year-old book-ended the spring, having won a Caulfield in late September.

It was the first time William Thomas had seen Ballarat, but he was comfortable in bringing up his sixth win in 16 starts and boosting his earnings past $380,000.

Price has been training Victoria since 2013.