Ballarat trainer Dan O’Sullivan admits he just loves to work hard and doesn’t like attention.
Well, if Berkeley Square triumphs in the Caulfield Guineas on Saturday, he will have plenty of attention to negotiate.
Not that he’d mind it on this occasion.
That is because the humble and respected conditioner will savour his long-awaited first Group 1 victory if all goes to plan with his $4.80 winning chance with Ladbrokes.
And he has every reason to believe his gelding can be right up there at the finishing post in the $3 million feature over 1600m.
Berkeley Square has three wins from four career starts, including last start, the Exford Plate at Flemington on September 10.
Ben and JD Hayes’ Tijuana finished third on that day, and is a $8 winning chance in the Caulfield Guineas.
Star Melbourne jockey Craig Williams will also be aboard Berkeley Square, as he has been for the developing sprinter’s past two starts, both victories.
“I don’t love it; I don’t love the attention,” O’Sullivan told Ladbrokes.com.au.
“I don’t love sitting down doing this (media), but when you get the opportunity to have a good horse you’ve got to run with it and go with it.
“I’ve just got to make sure just because there’s a hype around him I don’t change.
“He’s got to stay in his routine and do what I believe is right for him.”
It has been that solid routine which Berkeley Square has embraced, and why he is a live chance behind James Cummings’ $2.80 favourite, Golden Mile.
“Berkeley Square is an absolute dream to handle. He’s a great big horse, lovely horse to ride,” O’Sullivan said.
“He goes out and does his work – just what you want him to do.
“You see how relaxed he is, which I think is a big asset to him too.
“He never overdoes things and is a lovely long-striding horse, and he’s got a fantastic nature.”
It is that nature which O’Sullivan feels will turn Berkeley Square into a competitive stayer.
“His career has surprised me a little bit how quick it’s taken off,” he said.
“When you look at him, I think most people would agree he doesn’t look like an early three-year-old.
“He looks like a horse who’ll develop in time.
“To achieve three out of four wins out of his first four starts has been a big achievement, and still only over the 1400m.
“And to my eye, I think he’ll be much better when he gets out to at least 2000m.”
Stepping up to the mile distance on Saturday, O’Sullivan won’t mind if his star three-year-old gets back in the middle stages of the race.
“He’s been very adaptable so far. Usually most of his runs he’s been getting back and finishing off, and Craig Williams rode him the first day there at Flemington (winning the Damian Cubela Plate over 1410m on August 6),” the Victorian trainer said.
“He was able to get him out and get him forward, which was a really good thing to know that the horse can do it.
“He’s not one-dimensional. So we know we can be a bit aggressive at the start, and he will still settle and switch off and be strong late.”
Veteran trainer O’Sullivan is approaching the end of his career, which is why he is so grateful to have such a natural athlete like Berkeley Square in his care.
“I’m not a young person anymore, so I’m starting to realise I’m getting to the end of it,” he said.
“But if this horse can get my first Group 1 it will be great.
“I’m taking him to the Caulfield Guineas because to me I think it’s a beautiful race for him up to the 1600m.
“This is the first one for quite a little while I’ve had a genuine chance of doing it.
“It’d be a big thrill to pull one off, not just for me, but for a lot of people.”
O’Sullivan’s trackwork rider, Jaylah Kennedy, said Berkeley Square was a pleasure to be around.
“He’s next-level. Very exciting horse going forward and definitely a horse on the up, and I think we’re still yet to see the best of him,” she said.
“He’s a very bubbly horse. He loves a cuddle and is a bit of a people-pleaser.
“But he is cheeky too. I think it’s more that he’s been a little bit spoilt the past couple of months, maybe.
“But he’s a gem.”
Kennedy said the celebrations would be massive if O’Sullivan deservedly claimed his first Group 1 title.
“It’s really exciting for Dan. I think he’s pretty underestimated as a trainer,” she said.
“He’s a very good horseman, so it’s really exciting times.
“I think if we were to win the Guineas it would be a very big party.
“We would celebrate the win like there was no tomorrow.
“To think that we have a real live chance in winning the Guineas with a really nice horse that is only on his way up, it would mean the world to everybody here.”
Punters can get $4.80 fixed odds on Berkeley Square winning the Caulfield Guineas with Australian online bookmakers such as Neds and Ladbrokes.
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