Monday at 11: 00 a. m. ET — Owners, trainers and bettors backing Berkeley Square face a clear change: the six-year-old will carry topweight of 59. 5kg in the adelaide cup, making stamina, barrier position and riding strategy decisive for his chance over 3200m.
Berkeley Square faces 59. 5kg and barrier one in Adelaide Cup
Berkeley Square will jump from barrier one and carry 59. 5kg in the G2 Adelaide Cup, a weight above most of his rivals and a direct test of his ability to handle two miles at Morphettville. Last-start, the gelding won over 2500m at Flemington with 61. 5kg, a performance his connections point to as evidence he can shoulder heavy imposts, but the step up to 3200m under 59. 5kg alters the calculation for trainers and bettors alike.
Luke Nolen chases interstate double after Randwick Guineas success
Jockey Luke Nolen, fresh from riding Sheza Alibi to victory in the G1 Randwick Guineas and marking his 2000th career win, is set to partner Berkeley Square on Monday. Nolen said he expects the gelding to be midfield or worse early in the race and that he will need to “slice through them” to ensure they complete the two miles. His choice to travel to South Australia to ride Berkeley Square turns the jockey’s recent milestone into an interstate feature bid within days.
Form lines and weights put pressure on connections and punters
Berkeley Square has won 10 of 39 starts, including back-to-back Ballarat Cups in 2024 and 2025 and the G2 Vase at Moonee Valley in 2022, making him a proven stayer in longer races. Last year’s runner-up, Newfoundland, is listed on 54kg, while the remainder of the 18-horse field carry 53kg, highlighting how the weight spread leaves Berkeley Square carrying a markedly heavier load than most rivals. Market pricing reflected those dynamics, with Berkeley Square the $4. 80 second favourite behind Highland Bling at $4. 40 in one bookmaker’s market on Sunday.
Still, the step from 2500m to 3200m under topweight is notable: Nolen believes the gelding is “the best horse in it” but acknowledged the burden of a “very good horse’s weight. ” That assessment reshapes how trainers Dan O’Sullivan and bettors evaluate race-day tactics, especially given the inside barrier draw.
Yet, the race-day plan leans on Nolen reproducing the ride he used at Flemington, where a carrying-heavy performance over a slightly shorter trip yielded victory. If Nolen can replicate that positioning and timing from barrier one, connections hope Berkeley Square will remain competitive despite the extra kilos and longer trip.
Sheza Alibi’s Guineas win highlights Nolen’s recent form and choices
Nolen’s recent success aboard Sheza Alibi — unbeaten in three rides that include the G3 Vanity, the G2 Sandown Guineas and the G1 Randwick Guineas — underlines why he is in demand for interstate features. His decision to ride Berkeley Square in the Adelaide Cup converts that form into a tactical advantage for the gelding, but it also raises stakes for both the jockey and the Dan O’Sullivan stable if the heavy impost blunts Berkeley Square’s finishing kick over 3200m.
For punters, the contrast between Berkeley Square’s proven staying record and the weight disadvantage creates a narrow margin for error on Monday, sharpening attention on race tactics and Nolen’s positioning through the race.
If Berkeley Square can carry the weight for two miles, the answer will arrive on Monday.
