Jaylah Kennedy brings up 100th win with Ballarat Cup triumph

Berkeley Square notched a special win for Jaylah Kennedy in the Ballarat Cup but the jockey was unaware of the significance until later.

Jaylah Kennedy guides Berkeley Square ti victory in the Ballarat Cup on Saturday. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Rising star apprentice jockey Jaylah Kennedy notched her 100th winner with a perfectly-timed ride in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Berkeley Square for hometown trainer and boss Dan O’Sullivan.

Berkeley Square hauled in Lady In Pink and Globe with a powerful gallop down the middle of the track while favourite Poison Chalice finished fourth, just ahead of Future History.

The special victory capped a whirlwind 72 hours for O’Sullivan, Kennedy and Berkeley Square owners after booked jockey Luke Nolen sustained facial injuries and broken ribs in a fall last Thursday.

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Nolen coincidently picked up the ride on Berkeley Square in the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m), placed third last Saturday, after jockey Michael Dee was injured in a Flemington jumpout fall.

Kennedy had ridden Berkeley Square in six of his past seven starts including two wins.

“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,” Kennedy said.

“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.

“I can’t thank Dan, the whole team … to come out and win our hometown cup is something that I think we’re going to celebrate for quite a while.”

Berkeley Square returned $6 with Ladbrokes.

Jaylah Kennedy celebrates his win as she returns to scale aboard Berkeley Square. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Kennedy only realised her milestone 100th winner during the trophy presentation.

“Rapt. I forgot about that (100 wins) until I was standing there and thought shivers that was actually win number 100, what a race to do it in,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy rated Berkeley Square to perfection from barrier two, settled worse than midfield and stayed off the rail to take luck out of the equation.

The move posted second elect Future History three wide without cover, while she tracked favourite Poison Chalice.

“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,” Kennedy said.

“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 2000m.”

Dan O'Sullivan hugs Jaylah Kenedy after the win. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Berkeley Square, O’Sullivan’s third runner in the Ballarat Cup, made up for Affair To Remember being touched off in the 2020 edition.

Tuscan Fire finished fifth for the stable in 2014.

“Just bloody brilliant,” an emotional O’Sullivan said.

“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.”

Berkeley Square has been a model of consistency this time in, with three wins and four places from his past seven starts.

“He’s a machine. He’s sound. He tries every time,” O’Sullivan said.

“Doesn’t look like he’s going fast but he’s got a massive stride on him.”

Originally published as Jaylah Kennedy brings up 100th win with Ballarat Cup triumph