Racing
Berkeley Square’s weighty Cup task
Berkeley Square will need to set a weight carrying record since the introduction of metrics to win the Adelaide Cup.
Trainer Dan O'Sullivan and the connections of Berkeley Square have not been swayed from their Adelaide Cup ambitions by a hefty impost or inside draw.
O'Sullivan cut his teeth in Adelaide as a trainer before moving to Ballarat and has an Adelaide Cup to his credit, winning in 2008 with Lacey Underall.
But Monday's Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville would be a little more special with the gelding's ownership group predominantly Adelaide based.
There were wild scenes in the mounting yard after Berkeley Square won his second Ballarat Cup (2000m) in December, but it will be pandemonium on Monday if the six-year-old crosses the line in front.
"It would be good to go back and do it again, especially for his owners who are Adelaide based," O'Sullivan said.
"Some haven't seen race for a little while."
But the task confronting Berkeley Square is daunting.
Berkeley Square has been tasked with carrying 59.5kg, which is 1.5kg more than Hyperno (1978) and Gallic (2007) were asked to carry in their respective victories since the introduction of metrics in 1973.
In Berkeley Square's favour though is the minimum weight is only 53kg, a 3kg rise on the minimum when Bohemiath won at the turn of the century, although Gallic won off a 53kg minimum.
Berkeley Square earned his trip to Adelaide lumping 61.5kg to victory over 2500m at Flemington on February 14 under Luke Nolen who again has the ride on Monday.
"It was a good ride," O'Sullivan said.
"He looked after the horse and made sure he ran the trip out with the view of going up to two miles.
"I've got no problems with the trip. I think he can do whatever we want him to do.
"He's never done that and you want to see it, but it won't be easy with the weight, but he is a big bugger, and he has the form on the board.
"He is a Group 2 winner and has done a lot more than some of the others in the race."
O'Sullivan said everything had gone smoothly since the Flemington win with a couple of gallops to keep Berkeley Square ticking over.
"I'm happy with where he's at and we've just got to get him over there safely and he'll be right to go," O'Sullivan said.
Check out the latest Singapore News