While it has been 12 months between drinks so to speak for Dan O’Sullivan’s Berkeley Square with his last race victory coming in this very same race last year, Saturday’s victory in the $500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) took the earnings of the 6yo Territories (IRE) gelding past the $2m mark.
Coming to prominence during the spring of his 3yo season which netted Listed and Group 2 success and also a narrow fourth in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, the gelding had produced some solid efforts in his last four starts, all at Group 3 level without breaking through.
Sent out on the fourth line of betting, and therefore expected to run well, jockey Luke Nolen allowed him to settle right back in the field after jumping from barrier 13 of 14.
The Andrew Gluyas trained Air Assault went forward to take up the running with the race favourite Saint George (GB) sitting in second with fellow grey Statuario tracking him in third.
One of the first to take their moves, Nolen set off from the tail as Berkeley Square tracked the widest of all runners leading into the final bend, and while Saint George and Statuario going to the lead, Berkeley Square was powering late.
Gathering in the leaders and charging clear with 100m to run, Berkeley Square’s two and a three-quarter length winning margin bettered his performance 12 months back.
Coming from well back to grab third, the run of the Anthony and Sam Freedman trained Cadmus carried plenty of merit, while the connections of the Group 1 South Australian Derby runner up Statuario would be pleased with the effort of their gelding in finishing third.
Not coming into the race in form as such let O’Sullivan fly under the radar almost.
“We weren't under pressure but it's good to see him do it,” said O’Sullivan. “With the blinkers on and how he was travelling at the half-mile, I thought this is going to be beautiful and to see him win so comfortably, it's really, really good.”
“I've been reluctant to put the blinkers on for a while as I thought he might over-race, but Luke got it perfect today.
“He's just a bloody good horse and he won over $2 million in prize money now too."
When questioned about the draw, O’Sullivan had some reservations, but the race panned out well.
“I was paranoid about him settling but he jumped a little bit slow which he can do. I was happy to see Craig's horse (Saint George) go forward and apply a bit of pressure to Air Assault. We knew he would be strong late in the race and to see him win by a couple of lengths there is great."
Having ridden him in his last four starts, Nolen knew certain things needed to fall into place in the run.
"It was important to get the first part right with the blinkers again,” said Nolen. “The other two times he didn't get cover and there was no chance of rest.
“While he was strong on the bridle, he wasn't aggressive. I got an opportunity in the three-deep line and it just made my job a little bit easier because I wasn't that far from them.
“When the change up came, I gave him a chance to blend in and I had a lot to do still but I hadn't used a penny.
“He just got stronger as he came into it. He's two-for-two at the 2000-metres here so might as well go for a three-peat and it'll be between Jaylah (Kennedy) and me as to who rides it. It is a swings and roundabouts sort of thing. I was supposed to ride this horse in this race last year but I had a fall.
“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."
Taking his record to nine wins and nines placed efforts from 36 starts with earnings of $2,083,025, the David Peacock bred and Mill Park raised Berkeley Square is one of three winners, all at black type level, from five to race out of the Group 1 placed Teofilo mare Bahamas.
Berkeley Square is a half-brother to the Group 3-winning, multiple Group 1 placed Toronado gelding Senor Toba, as well as Yulong’s Group 2 winner Angel Capital (Harry Angel), who was last seen finishing second in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield.
The current 3yo out of Bahamas is an unnamed gelding by Blue Point who was exported to Hong Kong, with the current 2yo filly unfortunately passing away after foaling, while the mare has a yearling colt by Blue Point that is being retained to race.
As a result of missing to Harry Angel when covered this time last year, there will be no foal born this season.
Berkeley Square is one of 19 stakes winners for Darley’s Invincible Spirit stallion Territories who shuttled to Australia for five seasons with his last season being 2021
