BALLARAT trainer Dan O’Sullivan was in awe of his tough stayer Berkeley Square after he made it consecutive Ballarat Cups with an easy win in trying conditions.
It was Berkeley Square’s first win since the 2024 Ballarat Cup.
This year, he was ridden by Luke Nolen after Jaylah Kennedy won last year.
Kennedy is recovering from an Iliotibial band syndrome knee operation and was working on-course for Racing.com, and she was overcome with emotion after the win.
Nolen said Berkeley Square was now two from two over 2000m at Ballarat, and O’Sullivan should set him for a three-peat.
He quipped that he and Kennedy would have to work out who would ride.
Nolen pointed out that he was meant to ride him last year, but he was sidelined after a fall.
“It’s swings and roundabouts,” he said.
“Jaylah did a marvellous job, and I was happy to take the reins again. It is one of those things. You take the rough and the smooth. These things turn around quickly.”
Nolen said that O’Sullivan had done a great job as Berkeley Square was able to run a great race in the Geelong Cup six weeks before the Ballarat Cup, and he was able to get him to peak again.
“He’s done a great job with him. He’s toiled as he hasn’t won since this day last year, but he’s continued to run well and tested his patience. A lot of the credit goes to Dan and his team; they deserve this success.
O’Sullivan said the win superseded the win the year before.
“He’s just a bloody good horse, and he’s now won over $2 million in prizemoney now too,” O’Sullivan said.
O’Sullivan elected to place the blinkers back on Berkeley Square and said with 800m to go, he was confident he would be in the finish as he was travelling so well.
Although Berkeley Square jumped slowly, O’Sullivan was happy with the tempo of the race when Saint George worked forward, knowing it would suit his galloper.
O’Sullivan said the win of Berkeley Square was a team effort from his stable, and he pointed out that another apprentice, Sarah Field, had stepped up to ride him in trackwork with Kennedy being out injured.
