Story by Andrew Eddy from Racing.com
The pivotal $500,000 Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on May 16 could suddenly come into view for Saturday’s breakthrough winner Berkeley Square.
Trainer Dan O’Sullivan stressed on Sunday morning that any plans this autumn depended on how the horse recovered from his first win in 18 months at Caulfield on Saturday, but he said the early signs were positive and the options varied.
‘’I will probably throw in a nomination for the BM100 over 2000 metres at Caulfield next Saturday and also in Adelaide in the 2500-metre race, which could open up an option (for the Ramsden) two weeks later,’’ O’Sullivan said.
The 2500-metre race is the former G3 Port Adelaide Cup which has been renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and was the race won by Oceanex three years ago before she went to Flemington to win the Ramsden and sew-up a ballot-free run into the following spring’s Melbourne Cup.
‘’He’d have to come through the week really well but if he does, it’s (Adelaide) a chance and we’d have to see what happens from there,’’ he said.
Berkeley Square was one of the more promising staying three-years-olds in the spring of 2022 with his G2 AAMI Vase (2040m) win followed by a solid but unplaced run as second favourite in the G1 Victoria Derby (2500m).
But after a pedal bone injury kept him sidelined for 12 months, Berkeley Square has not been behind the 2000-metre trip where he won so convincingly on Saturday after sustained an 800-metre sprint to the line.
‘’I think yesterday he went like a mile and a half horse and I’d love to get him back to that trip, but he’ll tell us when he’s ready.’’
Berkeley Square (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)
