Jewel Day 3YO race winner Hearts are Better gives fresh thrill for co-owners Richard and Joanie Foster

A couple who hunkered down for a “wild ride” on a 65th floor amid Cyclone Alfred have had a second heart-stopping moment in a week - but this time a win. FULL STORY

A pair of Gold Coast highrise residents have gone from a wild Cyclone Alfred ride atop the Q1 tower - to a heartstopping wild ride with their race horse taking out a major race.

Hearts are Better - part co-owned by Joanie and Richard Foster who have successful stud Yarramalong Park - took out the 3YO Jewel crown at the Gold Coast Turf Club under lights on Saturday.

Mrs Foster said the Jewel crown win was “more heart pumping” than their “wild ride...rocking and rolling” during Cyclone Alfred a week earlier on the 65th floor of the Q1.

She told this masthead on the night Cyclone Alfred blasted the city: “It’s a wild ride up here, let me tell you. It is rocking and rolling. Constantly vibrating. The movement is non-stop.”

A week on, the pair enjoyed Hearts are Betters’ race win on Saturday with fellow co-owner Michelle Wilson and Tracey Hutchinson.

Hearts Are Better racing away with the QTIS Jewel 3YO. Picture: Grant Peters

They were joined by jockey Nikita Beriman - for her it was a successful defence of the Jewel 3YO crown she also won last year riding Party for Two. Ms Beriman atop Hearts are Better led the race the whole way. It was an eventful day for Beriman, who rode at the day’s earlier meet at Eagle Farm before being choppered to the Gold Coast for the Hearts are Better ride.

The Gold Coast night racing event - the Jewel Day - had been pushed back to the weekend just gone due to Cyclone Alfred pounding the south-east Queensland coastline.

Ms Foster said “we knew we were alive” in a highrise apartment swaying during Cyclone Alfred - but Hearts are Better’s success was more of a thrill.

“I’ve always said the feeling you get when winning races is almost as good as something you can’t print. We were screaming our lungs out - it’s very exciting, very exhilarating.”

Mr Foster said from the Gold Coast Turf Club owners area: “We were screaming a lot more words than we knew we had in the vocabulary.”

Hearts are Better co-owners Michelle Wilson, Tracey Hutchinson and Joanie Foster celebrate at the Gold Coast Turf Club on Saturday.

Yarramalong Park’s stud has Better than Ready, the sire to Hearts are Better. The Fosters have been in the breeding game for two decades.

Mr Foster said they kept a stake in Hearts are Better after the mother was killed in an accident.

The Fosters, who have been in the breeding game for more than 20 years, are a regular presence on the country’s race scene and at Magic Millions.

Hearts are Better will now get a week off before preparation begins for the lucrative winter carnival schedule.

Hearts are Better co-owners Joanie and Richard Foster (centre and far right) are celebrating their win in the 3YO Jewel Day race on Saturday at the Gold Coast Turf Club.