Racing
Stepping stone to fitness for Square
Berkeley Square will continue his preparation for the spring at Moonee Valley.
After a limited autumn and wanting to get Berkeley Square back into racing mode, trainer Dan O'Sullivan has commenced the gelding's spring campaign early.
Berkeley Square had a fruitful spring last year, winning at Flemington and Sandown in lesser races before capturing his hometown Ballarat Cup.
Along the way, Berkeley Square also collected placings in the Coongy Cup, the Bendigo Cup, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Zipping Classic, all at Stakes level.
Berkeley Square had one autumn start before going for another break and returned in the Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington last month.
After finishing near the rear, Berkeley Square had another 1600m hit out at Caulfield on July 26.
Both runs have seen Berkeley Square finish within 3-½ lengths of the victor, but more importantly the gelding has gained important fitness.
With a rating of 104, O'Sullivan said it was difficult finding suitable races to run Berkeley Square in as the gelding needs a minimum of 1600m and is possibly already looking for 2000m.
O'Sullivan has picked out the Travis Harrison Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday for Berkeley Square's next assignment.
It is a benchmark 100 contest and Berkeley Square is handicapped on 62kg, which will be offset by the 2kg claim for Jaylah Kennedy who won the Ballarat Cup on the gelding in December and has been aboard the now six-year-old in his two runs this campaign.
Pleasing for O'Sullivan is Berkeley Square has drawn out in barrier nine in the nine-horse field, and importantly the gelding is a winner over the course and trip as a three-year-old.
"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.
"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."
O'Sullivan is not aiming too high with Berkeley Square this spring with the gelding not among the nominations for the Caulfield Cup which closed on Tuesday.
Similar races to last year, the Coongy Cup, the Bendigo Cup and the Ballarat Cup, are races O'Sullivan is again focussing on this year.
"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.
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