Exciting type Hearts Are Better takes out the QTIS 3YO Jewel

Jockey Nikita Beriman defended her QTIS Jewel 3YO crown with Hearts Are Better a spectacular winner of the feature on Saturday night.

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

The girls are taking over.

On a memorable night for women’s increasing power in Queensland racing, Cejay Graham won the 2YO Jewel on Grafterburners and then just 35 minutes later, Nikita Beriman led all the way to successfully defend her 3YO Jewel crown on Hearts Are Better under lights at the Gold Coast.

“Last year it was Sammy (Collett) that won the two-year-old (on Mishani Aloha) and I won the three-year-old and this year it’s Cejay who won the two-year-old and I won the three-year-old,” a delighted Beriman said.

“We’ve all got each others’ back. It’s amazing, it’s so good.”

READ: Schweida and Graham flying high after QTIS Jewel success

Both Beriman and Graham, who rode three winners on the card, were flown from Brisbane to the Gold Coast in separate helicopters after riding earlier at an 11-card meeting at Eagle Farm.

Beriman had just 20 minutes after getting off the chopper to prepare for her ride on Tapildoodledo, which finished fourth in race two at the rescheduled Jewel Day after ex-cyclone Alfred dumped 600m of rain on the Bundall track.

She won the 3YO Jewel last year on Party For Two for trainer Matt Hoysted who also trains Hearts Are Better.

“Great win by her and it wasn’t my intention to lead,” Beriman said.

“But she was going so well and put herself into the race, I thought that when I came to the turn I’d had an easy enough lead, albeit going at a solid tempo.

“I was able to quicken and they weren’t going to catch me. Terrific effort by her and I’m looking forward to what she’s got.

“Hopefully I can go back-to-back next year.”

Hoysted said he was glad to see Beriman and Hearts Are Better enjoy a smooth ride from Brisbane to the Gold Coast, the jockey by chopper and the filly by road.

All smiles: Nikita Beriman returns after winning the QTIS Jewel 3YO on Hearts Are Better Picture: Grant Peters

Hearts Are Better never looked like missing out on the $300,000 first prize, with the Jack Bruce-trained Mr Bubbaluski and roughie Blantons Run left in her wake.

“We targeted this race with this girl,” Hoysted said.

“We’ve had a high opinion of her from early doors and she probably just had to learn her craft and relax a bit, which she’s doing now.

“It’s great to see her win in that fashion.”

Race favourite Astapor failed to fire a shot, despite the Clint Taylor-trained colt getting the better of Hearts Are Better in the 2YO Prelude at Doomben on February 22.

“It gave us plenty of confidence how strong to the line she was over the 1110-metres last start after a wide run in transit,” Hoysted said about his filly.

“We weren’t expecting to lead but she was so brilliant out of the gates and when Nikita was able to lead and control the race, she was going to take a fair bit of running down.

“There was the query over the 1200-metres but she got into such a lovely rhythm and she was able to do it with an easy time in the mid stages.”

Originally published as Exciting type Hearts Are Better takes out the QTIS 3YO Jewel