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Dan O’Sullivan is relying on a Moonee Valley lead-up ahead of a Group 1 assignment during Melbourne Cup week.
Ballarat trainer Dan O'Sullivan did not want to jeopardise his hopes of a first Group 1 win by taking Berkeley Square on a trip to Sydney.
The Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) is run at Randwick on Saturday, but O'Sullivan said it would have been an afterthought to head in that direction.
O'Sullivan has his eyes set on the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday week and as part of his plans for that race is the Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
But if Berkeley Square was to come out and street his opposition on Saturday, the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 5 could come on the radar.
"At weight-for-age he would come into it quite well, but he would have to be dominant on Saturday to even think about," O'Sullivan said.
"It has probably worked out alright for me as a lot of them that may have been here have gone up there and made the Moonee Valley race a little easier.
"It's worked out well for him to stay here and then go on to the Derby after that."
After successive wins at Flemington, Berkeley Square headed to the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 8, finishing an unlucky fourth, beaten just over a half-length.
O'Sullivan says Berkeley Square will relish the rise in trip on Saturday.
"I've said plenty of times I have been waiting to get him out past the mile," O'Sullivan said.
"I've been playing a waiting game to keep him fresh enough to run him at the mile.
"He's done a couple of pieces of work since the Guineas, and he did a nice piece of work on Tuesday and was super strong.
"He's really in a good place now."
O'Sullivan sees barrier seven, which he drew when slowly away at Caulfield, an advantage.
Being a big striding horse, O'Sullivan said Berkeley Square would not be stuck down on the fence looking for galloping room.
"He can pop out into the running line before the school and give him plenty of clear air," O'Sullivan said.
"It sounds simple."