
Berkeley Square Storms to Cup Win
Story by Michael Manly – Racing.com
In a popular hometown result, trainer Dan O’Sullivan and his apprentice Jaylah Kennedy combined to win their hometown $500,000 Ballarat Cup with iron horse Berkeley Square.
The appreciation of the combination winning was met with rapturous applause when Be
rkeley Square came back to the mounting yard.
For O’Sullivan it was his first Ballarat Cup win from only three runners in the race. Four years ago, his mare Affair To Remember, who was also raced by Adelaide breeder and owner David Peacock, went down by a short half-head.
O’Sullivan has been training for 30 years at Ballarat and local identities made a beeline to congratulate him.
For him to win the race with Kennedy and a galloper who puts in every time he goes to the races made it even better.
“It’s just bloody brilliant. For lots of reasons, just for the horse, for Jaylah. A lot of support here today. We backed the horse, we backed ourselves, we backed him up. And he got the job done,” O’Sullivan said.
“To have a local Ballarat horse win. We’ve got our marquees here and
Jaylah to step up and ride and do the job properly. It’s all part of the package.”
O’Sullivan described Berkeley Square as a machine.
“He tries every time. Doesn’t look like he’s going fast, but he’s got a massive stride on him,” he said.
O’Sullivan said Berkeley Square was such a big horse he could be a bit clumsy, but Kennedy had done a great job riding him in track work.
He said in the spring of 2023 he threw Berkeley Square in the deep end, so this carnival he decided to drop him back a peg or two and concentrate on the Benchmark 100s to get his confidence up.
“Jaylah has clicked with him and rides him. He’s big and sound and so tough,” O’Sullivan said.
“He’s a machine. He’s sound. He tries every time.”
O’Sullivan said 2000m was Berkeley Square’s pet distance, but they will give the Pakenham Cup (2400m) in a fortnight some consideration.
“I’m not saying he won’t get 2400m but we will concentrate on today for the moment,” he said.
Berkeley Square ($6) surged home to defeat Lady In Pink ($12) by a short neck, with frontrunner Globe ($13) fighting on bravely to be a head away third.

Presentation to connections after Berkeley Square won the Sportsbet Ballarat Cup at Sportsbet-Ballarat Racecourse on December 07, 2024 in Ballarat, Australia. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

Will’s The Boss
Well for today anyway......that's because our rising star has just ridden his first ever treble at Stawell today.Included in those was a very impressive win from a relatively new addition to our stable in Hughes The Boss.Hughes The Boss is a half brother to the...

A Fine Christmas
There was still time to do your last minute Christmas Shopping, with extra dollars, when Fine Rhythm broke his maiden status at Werribee on Tuesday.This fellow had placed on several occasions previously but has also encountered some issues so it was very...

Active wins on debut
The team had a successful trip to Horsham on Sunday with Active winning his debut by leading from barrier to winning post in the 1100m 3 year old maiden.He is very well named, being "Active" in every way and somewhat of a project for Dan and the team. Having...

Luckless Filly In Guineas Bid
STORY BY RACING.COM'S ANDREW EDDYOne of the spring’s unluckiest horses gets a final chance to make up for two missed opportunities when filly Affair To Remember tackles the colts in Saturday’s Group 2 Sandown Guineas.The daughter of Toronado was hopelessly blocked for...

Warrick The War Horse Makes It A Double
Our stable war horse, Aurelius Hero, delivers us another win at Swan Hill today!He is very well known as a stable favourite because of his gentle and affectionate nature and the fact that he saves his energy for race day to deliver his best effort when...

The Patchie Kid Earns A Rest
The decision to give The Patchie Kid one extra run, on the back-up, paid off today when he notched up his third career win at Swan Hill over 2100m.We've mentioned in previous stories, that Dan is adamant this fellow is still growing and maturing, which particularly...

Suprise Win From Valhalla Princess
The current matriach of the stable, Valhalla Princess, let us know that the ol' girl still has some spark in her when she won, second up this preparation, at Avoca over 1850m.Val needed an extended spell earlier this year, and it has proven to be a successful recipe...

Will Price All Smiles After Maiden Win
STORY BY TIM O'CONNOR FROM THE BALLARAT COURIERYoung jockey Will Price had a day to remember at Donald on Tuesday.The 19-year-old, who is the son of South Australian hoop Simon, partnered Dan O'Sullivan-trained Captain Crackerjak to take out a BM58 handicap over...

Johnny Be….No, Is Good
It doesn't seem that long ago that we could easily book John Allen for a ride at St Arnaud on a Saturday. Fast forward a few years and he is in demand by all the top trainers in the top races around Australia. So, to have him ride two winners for us in the...

Affair in the Spring
Affair To Remember's win at Geelong yesterday has earned her the challenge of delivering some thrills in some better races during the Spring.Up against a solid crop of three year old fillies on the rise, the daughter of Toronado won in convincing fashion in the hands...