Improved Berkeley Square will be tough to beat in the Vase Stakes
Dan O’Sullivan believes Berkeley Square has only improved from his fighting fourth in the Caulfield Guineas, which should make him tough to beat in the Vase Stakes at The Valley on Saturday.
Just as importantly, the three-year-old and $2.45 favourite with Ladbrokes continues to mature everyday.
These factors should allow the “in-the-zone” gelding to thrive in his second Group assignment as he steps up to 2040m.
“He’s fantastic. He came through the Guineas without a hitch. He’s never had that type of hard, Group 1 race,” O’Sullivan told racing.com.
“But he’s back working strongly.
“It’s like he’s in the zone. He’s really thriving, and he looks better and better each time.”
Berkeley Square’s steady improvement on the track is because he is staying level-headed and not letting his youthfulness get the better of him.
“The way he’s striding and the way he’s eating – his demeanour hasn’t changed,” O’Sullivan said.
“He’s probably getting a bit more spoilt now and he gets plenty of attention.
“But the main thing for me is his work ethic hasn’t changed.
“He’s not going out and working any better or getting lethargic.
“He’s just stayed right in the zone.”
With this kind of attitude, stepping out from barrier seven with Craig Williams on his back on Cox Plate Day in a $500,000 feature race won’t fluster him, according to O’Sullivan.
It will also be his first start at The Valley in an already-impressive career which has seen him salute three times from five races, with $425,150 in prizemoney.
“We went to Geelong (winning a maiden with his first start). He’d never been there, he’d never been to Caulfield and he’d never been to Flemington (winning a Benchmark 70 before saluting in the Exford Plate on September 10),” O’Sullivan said.
“And heaps of people tell you The Valley is probably an easier course to get around than Caulfield.
“A lot of horses would rather go to Moonee Valley than Caulfield.
“He’s just a pretty cruisy, adaptable horse. So hopefully he gets it right.”
Like his stable star, O’Sullivan is not getting too carried away at the prospect of a win on Saturday.
A victory would see his middle-distance runner back up for the $2 million Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington next Saturday.
“It’s an exciting weekend and hopefully we can pull it off,” O’Sullivan said.
Berkeley Squares Odd’s In The 2022 Vase Stakes
Vase Stakes – 
#1 Berkeley Square (7)
3yo Gelding | T: Dan O’Sullivan | J: Craig Williams (57kg)