Dan O’Sullivan and his stable star Berkeley Square again dominated the Ballarat headlines, with the pair securing a second straight victory in the Ballarat Cup twelve months after their first triumph.
Targeting provincial feature cups has long been the plan for the now six-year-old, and this year’s $500,000 Listed edition over 2000 metres was even more authoritative than the 2024 win. Berkeley Square cruised home by 2¾ lengths over the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Cadmus ($71), with Statuario ($14) another 1¾ lengths back in third.
“We weren’t under pressure but it’s good to see him do it,” O’Sullivan said.
“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 (Nolen) got it perfect today.
“He’s just a bloody good horse and he has won over $2 million in prizemoney now too.”
Last year, Luke Nolen was sidelined through injury and missed the winning ride, with stable apprentice Jaylah Kennedy stepping in to steer Berkeley Square to victory.
This year the situation reversed, with Kennedy out injured and Nolen taking the saddle.
“It is a swings and roundabouts sort of thing,” Nolen said.
“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.
“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 and me as to who rides it.”
Nolen also credited O’Sullivan’s patience in finally breaking the gelding’s year-long run without a win.
“He’s done a great job with him,” Nolen said.
“He’s toiled as he hasn’t won since this day last year, but he’s continued to run well and tested his patience.
“A lot of the credit goes to Dan and his team, they deserve this success.”
Punters looking ahead to next year’s Ballarat Cup can compare odds via Australia’s leading betting sites.
