Berkeley Square out to go back-to-back in the Ballarat Cup

Berkeley Square will look to join a select group on Saturday by winning successive editions of the Ballarat Cup, something only one local galloper has managed in the past decade.

Kiwia achieved the double across 2018 and 2019, first over 2200m and then over 2000m following a distance change.

Last year’s win handed trainer Dan O’Sullivan his first hometown Cup, and he’s eager to see the gelding return to defend his crown.

“I would never say that it was a goal winning the race, although you always like to win any good race,” O’Sullivan said.

“We had Tuscan Fire nearly start favourite in it one year and then we just got beaten with Affair To Remember during the COVID year, so it really was a big buzz last year, and the horse deserved it.

“Then you throw Jaylah (Kennedy) in the mix. She got back on him, it was her 100th career win and her first Listed win on her favourite horse in her own backyard.”

If programming had played out differently, Berkeley Square may have lined up in the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown rather than Caulfield.

He finished third in last year’s Zipping before returning seven days later to win the Ballarat Cup.

Wet ground again influenced O’Sullivan’s planning this year after the gelding felt the effects of a heavy track when fifth in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) earlier this month.

“As much as he has been effective on a wet track, his last run it was pretty wet, so I thought I would rather keep him for Ballarat,” O’Sullivan said.

“Four weeks between runs, back to the 2000 (metres), he’s freshened up nicely.

“He’s nice and bright and we’re trying to go back-to-back.”

He is one of 29 nominees for the Ballarat Cup, which could also feature Air Assault, Eclipse Stakes winner Casino Seventeen, Kingswood and Saint George.

O’Sullivan said missing regular rider Jaylah Kennedy was unfortunate but necessary with her ongoing knee rehabilitation.

“I spoke to her the other day, and it won’t be until January I would say,” O’Sullivan said.

“It’s one of those injuries you can’t come back too soon from. If you fall off, or twist the knee, you go back to where you were, so you have to be right.”

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