Berkeley Square out for Queen Elizabeth Stakes success
Melbourne Cup plans can be years in the making and Ballarat trainer Dan O’Sullivan is already thinking about next year’s race at Flemington.
The Melbourne Cup (3200m) is still more than 360 days away, but O’Sullivan’s stayer Berkeley Square will pass an important qualifying clause if he can run top three in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
A win would be better again, but O’Sullivan is taking each step as it comes with Berkeley Square who started second favourite in the 2022 Victoria Derby (2500m) but wasn’t quite ready for the trip as a three-year-old.
Now as a mature five-year-old, and by the time next year’s Cup comes around Berkeley Square will be six, distance races seem to be the gelding’s forte.
For the first time since that Derby outing two years ago, O’Sullivan stepped Berkeley Square up to 2400m when second to Sea King in the Bendigo Cup on October 30 in which Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice finished in fifth position.
“He was good, but the winner was just too good,” O’Sullivan said of Berkeley Square.
“We stepped slow, but we also wanted to make sure that we got cover so that we finished the race off being our first time out to the trip in quite a while.
“He did that and if you take the winner out, we go on and win the Bendigo Cup.
“He’s ticking over nicely and I’m looking forward to seeing him get out to that trip again.”
O’Sullivan said he had deliberately taken his time to step Berkeley Square up in trip again as he wanted the gelding to relax.
That is what Berkeley Square is now doing in his races and a big part of that has been apprentice Jaylah Keenedy who rides him in his work and has been aboard the gelding in his last five runs, for two wins and two second placings.
“We were always building up in distance this time in and we’ve gradually stepped our races up to get him out to 2400 metres,” O’Sullivan said.
“You still have to make sure you get it right and I think we’ve ticked that box off pretty good.
“Jaylah’s done nothing wrong on him so far, so we’ve stuck with her.
“It would be nice to win a good race and hopefully it’s this one.”
More Racing News
Lockwood's filly Extreme Taste faces draw challenge
Trainer Barry Lockwood initially commented that there wasn't much to say about his filly Extreme Taste "because she hasn't won yet," but upon further discussion, he is considerably more positive about her chances of success at Ipswich on Wednesday.Extreme Taste, a maiden after three starts, is set to compete in...
Sir Les refining his racecraft under Carmody's guidance
Craig Carmody is diligently working with promising three-year-old Sir Les, aiming to harness the gelding's natural talent, a skill he witnessed with the horse's dam, Everage, who also achieved stakes success.Sir Les, by All Too Hard, displayed impressive form winning his first two outings before a narrow fifth-place finish in...
Tennessee Bound to bypass Caulfield for Sandown assignment
While Tennessee Bound would likely be a leading contender for favouritism in the Caulfield race she is entered for, trainer Ciaron Maher is intent on continuing his measured approach with the undefeated mare.Consequently, the four-year-old is expected to make her next start in Wednesday's 1200-metre Evergreen Turf Handicap at Sandown.The...
Bellatrix Star's comeback looms in the Sir John Monash Stakes
Mark Walker is proceeding with caution regarding the return of the classy mare Bellatrix Star, based on his experiences with her over the past two seasons.This Saturday, the mare is expected to make her reappearance in the $200,000 Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield.The 1100-metre weight-for-age race will...
Hard Kick's preparation for major spring sprint begins
The traditional winter period typically isn't a springboard for success in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, but the Lindsay Park training team is pinning its hopes on Hard Kick.The unexposed gelding is poised to commence a campaign that has its sights set on the lucrative $2 million Group 1 sprint for...
Music Time set for Kosciuszko path in spring
Trainer Gratz Vella has confirmed that Music Time will be pointed towards The Kosciuszko during the Sydney spring carnival, foregoing the Group 1 Golden Rose for three-year-olds.Vella highlighted the irresistible appeal of The Kosciuszko for country trainers and indicated that the Golden Slipper placegetter might be better suited to the...
Tim Clark sees great potential in By Choice's return
Despite Tulloch Lodge's usual high benchmarks, their two-year-old season has been somewhat subdued. Nevertheless, their primary stable jockey, Tim Clark, anticipates that the current crop of youngsters will more than make up for lost ground as they transition to three-year-old racing.Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have seen 14 juvenile winners...
Sheza Alibi's move back to Pakenham imminent
The serious phase of training is fast approaching for Sheza Alibi.The exciting filly is drawing near the end of her northern sojourn in Queensland and will soon be repatriated to the Pakenham stable operated by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.The daughter of Saxon Warrior journeyed north following her stunning victory...
Cellarmaster triumphs in a tight finish to claim the Winx Guineas
In a thrilling conclusion, Cellarmaster ($5.50) narrowly pipped Platinum Pantheon ($6.50) at the post, with Rustemo ($8.50) trailing in third, more than a length adrift.Leading bookmakers noted Cellarmaster's winning dividend at $5.50, while the favoured runner Within The Law ($2.60) failed to live up to expectations despite being heavily supported.The...
James Healy celebrates first stakes win with Arabian Rose in Glasshouse Handicap
Sunshine Coast trainer James Healy has secured his maiden stakes victory thanks to the unheralded mare Arabian Rose, who triumphed in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap on her home track at Caloundra.Initially listed as the third emergency when final acceptors were declared, Arabian Rose's place in the field was uncertain, with...