Dan O’Sullivan has kickstarted Berkeley Square’s spring racing schedule earlier than planned, aiming to build up the gelding’s fitness after a short autumn.
The rising six-year-old was a consistent performer last spring, racking up wins at Flemington and Sandown before capturing the Ballarat Cup.
Berkeley Square also filled placings in the Coongy Cup, Bendigo Cup, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and Zipping Classic.
After just one start during the autumn, he resumed in the Winter Championship Final (1600m) before another solid hit out at Caulfield late last month.
Both runs saw him finish midfield but within striking range, with O’Sullivan keen to stretch the gelding out over more ground.
“He’s ticking over nice, he’s doing what he’s doing, he’s a bit of an older horse now and looking for the 2000 metres,” he said.
Next up is Saturday’s Travis Harrison Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley, where Berkeley Square has drawn the outside in a nine-runner field.
He’ll carry 62kg, but Jaylah Kennedy’s 2kg claim will help — the same apprentice who guided him to Ballarat Cup glory and has ridden him both times this prep.
“He’s won there before and he’s going well, so what do I do, not run him and wait for another month,” O’Sullivan said.
“His last run was satisfactory. His past two runs he has drawn barriers one and three and those gates haven’t suited him.”
There’s no Caulfield Cup target this time around, with O’Sullivan instead looking to replicate last year’s pattern, aiming at the Coongy, Bendigo and Ballarat Cups again.
“I’d like to get him out to 2400 metres again so the Bendigo Cup, which he was competitive in last year, would be a nice race to aim for again,” O’Sullivan said.
Berkeley Square remains a strong betting proposition this prep — view all the latest markets at Australia’s leading betting sites.