Nikita Beriman caps big day for girls at the Gold Coast with victory in QTIS Jewel 3YO

Nikita Beriman capped another big day for the girls after winning the QTIS Jewel 3YO with Party For Two.

A delighted Nikita Beriman returns to scale after winning the QTIS Jewel 3YO with Party For Two. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

The girls were at it again as female jockeys won a brace of races including the two $500,000 features on the rich QTIS Jewel day on the Gold Coast.

After Samantha Collett had given the Mishani army a win in the $500,000 Jewel 2YO, Group 1-winning rider Nikita Beriman stepped up to the plate with speed machine Party For Two in the $500,000 Jewel 3YO.

Matt Hoysted and Steve O’Dea-trained Party For Two was backed into $5 on race day, after as much as $11 had been available earlier in the week.

Punters wanted to be with Party For Two, who finished less than 3½ lengths off Little Brose in last year’s Group 1 Blue Diamond in Melbourne, as they identified the on-pace filly would be suited by the leader pattern on the day.

Party For Two - party for all!

Party For Two has lasted to win the 3YO QTIS Jewel at @GCTurfClub today for @ODeaHoysted! pic.twitter.com/yOVTw9TkAn

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 9, 2024

The only doubt about the filly was whether she would run a strong 1200m, but Hoysted’s confidence grew during the day as he watched plenty of leaders and on-pace runners score on the return to the Gold Coast course proper.

Beriman, who hadn’t ridden Party For Two on race day since the 2023 Blue Diamond, sent her filly to the lead and held off a strong finishing burst from runner-up Kesalul ($17).

Her win was just the latest in an extraordinarily successful time for female Queensland jockeys in recent weeks and they were again to the fore on Jewel day winning six of the 10 races.

“The last time I rode this filly was in the Blue Diamond, when she was trained by Damien (Batters),” Beriman said.

“I’ve been in the racing game a long time, so I was a little surprised to get the call up to ride her again but the wheel often turns pretty quickly in racing.

“It was a big relief to get the win on the board, it was great to get back on her and the team have done a great job with her.”

Party For Two (left) holds out Kesalul to win the QTIS Jewel 3YO. Picture: Grant Peters/ Trackside Photography

Hoysted said the pattern of racing on the day boosted his confidence with Party For Two and he was happy to have Beriman back on board as she knew the filly back to front.

“It (the track pattern) gave us even more reason to try to find the front, and I’m delighted we got the result,” Hoysted said.

“Nikita knows this filly inside and out and she has a great understanding with the filly.

“I was a bit worried about the 1200m but she’s got a big ticker this filly.

“She’s so tough and honest and I’m so proud of her.”

Originally published as Nikita Beriman caps big day for girls at the Gold Coast with victory in QTIS Jewel 3YO