Berkeley Square shines as Adelaide Cup looms

BALLARAT trainer Dan O’Sullivan is more convinced than ever he has the right horse for the right job in next month’s Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) following Berkeley Square’s imposing win in the Be Captivated Trophy (2500m) at Flemington last Saturday.

The ever-consistent six-year-old produced his 10th win in 39 career starts in what O’Sullivan viewed as the perfect lead-up to his tilt at South Australia’s premier staying race on 7 March.

On the quick back-up following his eye-catching third over 2000m at Caulfield the previous Saturday, Berkeley Square was awkwardly placed behind a wall of horses at the 600m, but once in clear air was able to hit the line strongly for a half-length win.

Underlining a remarkable performance, the dual Ballarat Cup winner, carrying the top weight of 61.5kg, conceded 6.5kg to the second and third placegetters Garachico and Steel Run.

It was his first win beyond 2400m, despite a string of minor placings at Group 2 and 3 level in races including the Sandown Classic, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Bendigo and Geelong Cups.

O’Sullivan can only marvel at his star stayer’s consistency, with last Saturday’s win boosting his prize earnings to $2,178,275.

“His run last week was fantastic; he’s just a terrifically consistent horse, especially when he gets to the outside,” he said.

“He doesn’t look like he’s quickened that much, but he’s just such a big striding horse.

“I’m really pleased to see him win over the 2500m.

“He went around in a derby as a three-year-old without much luck and we haven’t been far away in a Bendigo Cup, a Geelong Cup, a Queen Elizabeth, so I was pleased to see him tick this box off.”

With three runs under his belt since the second of his back-to-back Ballarat Cup wins last December, O’Sullivan feels he will have Berkeley Square peaking for his tilt at the Adelaide Cup at Morphettville.

It promises to be a sentimental affair with his owners and breeder all Adelaide-based.

“All the owners, especially David Peacock, who bred the horse, is very keen to get an Adelaide Cup on his mantelpiece,” O’Sullivan said.

 

 

“He is the right horse to go there to it.

“It was great to see him run out that 2500m with that weight; that’s really good going forward.”

O’Sullivan will be chasing his second Adelaide Cup triumph.

He won his first in 2008 with Lacey Underall, who was beaten only narrowly the previous year by Gallic.

The astute trainer was thrilled to see Luke Nolen back in the winner’s circle at the end of a tough week for the senior jockey.

The 39-time Group 1 winner was suspended for 24 meetings after pleading guilty to an improper riding charge at the Pakenham meeting on Thursday night.

Best known as the regular rider of the undefeated champion mare Black Caviar, Nolen was rapt to get a win on a day when the feature race was named in her honour.

“The day itself means a lot to me,” he said.

“It’s good to get a result on a day when one of the best horse this country has ever seen and one, I had a great knowledge of.

“It’s great to get a result for Dan and his team. They do a good job and with the weight today, he’s done a good job.

“He (Berkeley Square) does relish big tracks, but they ran it at a modest tempo.

“I was a fair way back, but we blended into the race really well.

“It wasn’t an issue the weight, we were able to blend in at our leisure, and he was too good in the end.”