Caulfield Guineas and Victoria Derby on the Radar for Berkeley Square

Mark Smith - Saturday August 6

Godolphin’s Group 1 Prix Jean Prat winner Territories (IRE) found it tough garnering support from breeders in five seasons of shuttling, but he looks to have a promising type in the 3yo Berkeley Square.

Berkeley Square low flying (image Grant Courtney)

Sent off a short-priced favourite in Saturday’s VRC Member Damian Cubela Hcp (1400m), the Dan O’Sullivan-trained gelding got the job done in some style.

Given a positive ride by Craig Williams, Berkeley Square hit the line strongly to defeat the Per Incanto (USA) colt Castillian by two lengths and a half with the So You Think filly Proscenium Arch a nose back in third.

From her sire’s second crop of 46 live foals, Berkeley Square made a winning debut at Geelong in March before a luckless second to the promising Boogie Dancer (Sooboog) in the VOBIS Gold Ingot at Caulfield.

Dan O’Sullivan said he hopes the son of Territories can measure up to a Caulfield Guineas or Victoria Derby.

“I’ll have a good chat to Craig. There is a Listed race here in four weeks and we would like to get him to the Caulfield Guineas,” O’Sullivan said.

“Whether that is going to be a bit too sharp for him, and it’s a fair way away.

Advertisement

“There is a nice race for him in early November or late October (VRC Derby) we can have a look at.”  

Big horse with a big future (image Grant Courtney)

A homebred for David Peacock and partners, Berkeley Square is a half-brother to Group III ATC Frank Packer Plate winner and Group 1 BTC Queensland Derby runner-up Senor Toba (Toronado), out of the Teofilo (IRE) mare Bahamas.

Placed in the SAJC Schweppes Oaks and Group III South Australia Fillies Classic, Bahamas is a half-sister to Group II VRC Matriarch Stakes winner and Group 1 SAJC Australasian Oaks third Affair To Remember (Toronado) and stakes-placed Exodus (Bernardini).

Bahamas has a 2yo filly by Frosted (USA) named Another You and a weanling colt by Harry Angel (IRE).

The daughter of Teofilo (IRE) was covered by Blue Point (IRE) last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Vrc Member Damian Cubela-Bm70 1410m

Flemington Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:25.36
1
Berkeley Square
- 3g Territories (IRE) x Bahamas (AUS) (Teofilo (IRE))
Tnr: Dan O'Sullivan Rdr: Craig Williams 59
2
1.8
Castillian
- 3c Per Incanto (USA) x Anaween (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: W Egan 58
NZB Ready To Run Sale $270,000
Seller: Kilgravin Lodge
Buyer: Mr DC Ellis CNZM / Ozzie Kheir / Group 1 Bloodstock / Bruce Perry Bloodstock
NZB Karaka Book 1 $0
Seller: Little Avondale Stud
Buyer: Withdrawn
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $0
Seller: Little Avondale Stud, Masterton, NZ
Buyer: Withdrawn
3
1.9
Proscenium Arch
- 3f So You Think (NZ) x It's Our Showtime (NZ) (Showcasing (GB))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: C Newitt 57.5
4
5.8
Blakmax
- 3c Brazen Beau (AUS) x Maxie's Blue Girl (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: Jamie Kah 58
5
6.0
Cusack
- 3c Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Belle Que (AUS) (Street Hero (USA))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: B Melham 59.5
6
7.5
Palaggio
- 3g Caravaggio (USA) x Rocket Commander (AUS) (Court Command (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ms L J Meech 58
7
8.0
Water Bomber
- 3g Headwater (AUS) x Regal Tier (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: D Moor 58
8
20.0
Taut You Could
- 3g O'Lonhro (AUS) x Taut (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: G Eurell Rdr: Damian Lane 59.5
More Reading...
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.
Berkeley Square Stays on Track for Victoria Derby
Berkeley Square will progress to the Group 1 Victoria Derby, while runner-up Virtuous Circle will head to the spelling paddock, the fallout from Saturday’s Group II Drummond Golf Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
Racing’s Night of Champions August 28
45 of the top horses in Australia will be recognised for outstanding performances during the 2024/2025 racing season at Racing’s Night of Champions.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
One to Watch – Geelong
Team Hawkes were the guiding force behind the racing career of Group I ATC Doncaster Mile winner Brutal and have also prepared his first Group I winner as a sire in Nepotism and they unleashed a debut winner by him at Geelong on Friday.
Breeders Paradise - Inglis Digital August (early) Online
An abundance of high-quality broodmares – many in foal to some of the hottest young stallions in the Southern Hemisphere – and broodmare prospects headline a “breeders’ paradise’’ in the Inglis Digital August (Early) Online Sale.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 7
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Above the Clouds Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
It proved to be a long but fruitful day for Kelly Myers on Friday, with the now Central Districts-based hoop riding home Above The Clouds to win the $100,000 TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge for local trainer Ralph Manning.
Territories Son Berkeley Square on Track for Caulfield Guineas
We nominated Berkeley Square as a leading contender for the Caulfield Guineas and Victoria Derby early on and have no reason to change our mind after the son of Territories (IRE) opened his stakes account in Saturday’s Listed Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington.
Wootton Bassett Set to Blast Out of Winter
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.