Trainer Dan O’Sullivan has wasted no time getting Ballarat Cup winner Berkeley Square back into racing mode, launching his spring campaign earlier than usual following a quiet autumn.
The six-year-old, who made a name for himself last spring with consistent performances across Victoria—including wins at Flemington, Sandown, and a memorable hometown triumph in the Ballarat Cup—has already had two pipe-openers this winter. While finishing unplaced in both, he wasn’t far off the mark, closing within 3½ lengths of the winners in each.
“It’s been about fitness, not results just yet,” said O’Sullivan, who noted the gelding has come through those runs well. “He’s an older horse now and probably looking for more ground.”
With that in mind, Berkeley Square steps up to a more suitable trip this Saturday in the Travis Harrison Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley. The race, a Benchmark 100, comes with a hefty 62kg impost, but stable apprentice Jaylah Kennedy will reduce that burden with her 2kg claim. Kennedy is no stranger to the horse—she guided him to Ballarat Cup glory and has ridden him in both runs this prep.
O’Sullivan welcomes the step up in distance and says the wide draw—barrier nine in a nine-horse field—might actually suit the gelding better than his recent inside barriers.
“He’s won at the Valley before, and the outside gate isn’t a worry. His last two starts from barriers one and three didn’t give him much room to work with,” he said. “He’s ready for 2000 metres, so it’s time to get him rolling.”
While many spring hopefuls are targeting the $5 million Caulfield Cup, O’Sullivan is keeping ambitions measured. Berkeley Square wasn’t among the 2025 Caulfield Cup nominations, with the trainer instead eyeing a repeat campaign through the Coongy Cup, Bendigo Cup, and Ballarat Cup—races where the gelding proved highly competitive in 2024.
“I’d love to stretch him to 2400 metres again, and the Bendigo Cup looks like a nice aim. He was solid there last year, and he’s the kind of horse who can build into his prep,” O’Sullivan said.
