Berkeley Square outstays rivals in Vase
Dan O’Sullivan said Berkeley Square was “in the zone” before stepping out for the Group 2 Vase at Moonee Valley, and in the zone he most certainly was.
The developing three-year-old – with champion jockey Craig Williams aboard – timed his run beautifully to win the 2040m feature.
The gelding had a nice run from fourth position, before getting the better of Pericles for James Cummings on the straight and going on to beat runner-up Virtuous Circle by three quarters of a length.
2022 Moonee Valley Vase Replay
O’Sullivan was confident Berkeley Square could compete in the Caulfield Guineas last start, and he did that, finishing fourth.
He carried that good form into Saturday.
“It was a good race, wasn’t it? It was a big challenge up the straight there,” O’Sullivan told Racing.com.
“I was really pleased to get the result for the owners.
“I’ve always said 2000m would be his limit. It was a really exciting race and he was really tough through the line.”
O’Sullivan now believes Berkeley Square can step up in class and distance for the Group 1 Victoria Derby over 2500m at Flemington next Saturday.
“It’ll be interesting how much this race takes out of him. If the run affected him it’d be the only reason I wouldn’t go,” he said.
Williams said O’Sullivan did an outstanding job preparing his middle-distance stable star for Saturday’s effort.
“Credit to Dan O’Sullivan, he’s done a great job,” he said.
“He’s really managing and most importantly developing this horse.
“And it’ll be exciting to see where Dan and the owners decide to go with him in the near-future.”