3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after Berkeley Square claims the Listed Sportsbet Ballarat Cup at Ballarat on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Berkeley Square (D O'Sullivan/J Kennedy) - $6
2nd: Lady In Pink (L & T Corstens & W Larkin/B Allen) - $12
3rd: Globe (M Price & M Kent Jnr/J McNeil) - $13
Winning Time: 2:01.67 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: Short Neck x Head
The Ballarat local has done it!
— Racing.com (@Racing) December 7, 2024
Berkeley Square storms home to win the Ballarat Cup on the line! @DOSullivanRace pic.twitter.com/BpfxvMIRPO
Winning Trainer: Dan O'Sullivan
Emotional win in hometown Cup: "Just bloody brilliant. For lots of reasons, just for the horse, for Jaylah. A lot of support here today. We backed the horse, we backed ourselves, we backed him up. And he got the job done."
Jockey situation: "I must admit, I was watching Jaylah pretty carefully going to barriers, and I mentioned to Luke (Nolen), it was Luke's idea to really contemplate backing the horse up into this race. I thought with Luke sitting at home, he could have been on the horse doing the same job.
"Credit to Jaylah, she took up the reins last night. And Barry too, she said she wasn't going to the fence. And she rode it out perfectly and timed her run to the minute."
On the horse's toughness: He's a machine. He's sound. He tries every time. Doesn't look like he's going fast but he's got a massive stride on him. And a big thrill for my team back home. All the team at home, they do all the hard work. He's a horse that's had a few little setbacks along his way, injured himself a few times. And, he's a big horse, a bit clumsy at times, and this girl's done a great job riding work. And some of the other ones at home, Damo was here today, we've done a lot of nice walking around and keeping him happy. So, it's just a big thrill and a big relief."
Winning Jockey: Jaylah Kennedy
Back on today: "Oh my God. Honestly, I can't believe it. Condolences to Luke; he was meant to be aboard today and I'm just so thankful that I was given the opportunity to get on him today."
Meaning of the win: "I couldn't believe it, to be honest. I'm just so lucky to be in the position that I am, and this horse. This horse has taken me on such a journey over the spring. And I can't thank Dan, the whole team. You know, Damo, Michaela, Quinn, just everybody. Ben, we're only a little team. But to come out and win our hometown cup is something that I think we're going to celebrate for quite a while."
How the race unfolded: "I just wanted to begin as good as I could. I didn't want to be giving them, I didn't want to give any sort of ground from the gates. He jumped well. There was obviously good speed, which I anticipated. I was happy enough with how things were unfolding, sort of in the first furlong and I saw the favourite there out on a limb, three wide. And I probably was a little bit of a pest I would say, to him, and I really made him work and stay out there, and I just knew I had the horse underneath me to be able to give him a squeeze and dig up there."
"When I wanted him to come back, he'd come straight back to me, and that's what he did, and from then on, we followed the right horses. The gap opened up. And God, he's just so good over 2,000."
What she loves about the horse: "Everything. He's just so easy to deal with at home. He's got the biggest personality. And obviously, he was quite sick as a young horse, so he was handled a lot. And he's very cuddly. I just love him. He's like a big teddy bear."
