Trainer Dan O’Sullivan cannot wait to get his three-year-old Berkeley Square back to Flemington to run in the Victoria Derby.
Saturday’s Group 1 race for three-year-olds over 2500m has seen the gelding draw in barrier five which O’Sullivan said would give Berkeley Square every opportunity.
Berkeley Square is unbeaten in two runs at Flemington, over 1410m and 1400m, while his two defeats have come at Caulfield.
For whatever reason, Berkeley Square has been slow into stride at Caulfield, which potentially cost him winning the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) two starts back.
Berkeley Square returned to form capturing the Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley last week on a Heavy 8 track.
O’Sullivan sees the trip and the likelihood of slightly firmer footing as being ideal for Berkeley Square on Saturday.
“Hopefully the weather stays away, and we can get on to a better surface which would be nice,” O’Sullivan said.
“Ideally, I would like a (Good) four or a (Soft) five, but realistically I think it will be around a six.
“It’s a marvellous drying track Flemington and with the rail back in the true, that’s ideal also.”
O’Sullivan had expected Berkeley Square to be a little jaded following his outing at Moonee Valley last week, but the gelding bounced back quickly from that run.
And barrier five will give Craig Williams every opportunity to switch the gelding off for the first part of the race.
“He’s got a beautiful draw,” O’Sullivan said.
“It takes a lot of the worry out knowing you have a nice draw. You don’t have to come from 16 or hold a spot from one or things like that, so it will be all up to Craig now where he might position him.”
The good draw and the likelihood of an improving track has seen a switch in favouritism for the 2022 Victoria Derby with TAB.
Berkeley Square has firmed from $4.20 into $3.40 to be the market leader while Sharp ‘N’ Smart has eased from $3.30 to $3.90 after drawing barrier three.
