Nikita Beriman and Party For Two is a story with a changing landscape, but, in spite of being separated for a while, the bond between this horse and rider has remained intact and ready to go when called upon … as they showed to such good effect when Party For Two saluted in the Three-Year-Old Jewel at the Gold Coast.
Beriman had previously ridden the Sidestep filly in four of her first five starts, winning twice (by a combined winning margin of ten lengths) before going in to run a close second in the Blue Diamond Prelude behind Exploring. The duo then finished unplaced (for the first time) in the Group 1 Blue Diamond itself.
A significant change followed with Party For Two changing stables, moving from Damien Batters to the Steven O’Dea and Matt Hoysted training partnership, based at Eagle Farm.
That shift resulted in a change of jockey with Beriman being replaced in the saddle by Ben Thompson and Sam Clipperton in the filly’s two Winter Carnival starts for her new stable before the Party For Two was put out for a spell.
By the time Party For Two resumed, Beriman was sidelined after suffering a shoulder injury which would keep her out of action far longer than first anticipated, so she was well and truly out of the picture when Cejay Graham was handed the reins for the filly’s next three run preparation, during which Party For two put another win behind her name.
But then the shift back came via a phone call with Beriman being offered the Party For Two ride in The Jewel.
“It was actually a month ago that they asked me to ride her in The Jewel,” explained Beriman, “so, I knew I had regained the ride, but I wasn’t vocalising it because I preferred to let actions speak louder than words and let her do the talking on the track with her ability.
“I was just thankful to be part of it again.
“I trialled her. I gave her an 850m jump out at Doomben. She was literally beautiful, and I thought … aah, I missed you,” said Beriman.
“She didn’t grow height-wise, but she has got such a big heart and tries so hard … and I couldn’t believe how much she’s matured. Her mannerisms were in check.
“It was just so rewarding to win on her. It didn’t matter what the race was worth, or what the race was, it was that I got to win on her again that was pretty special.
“She is just a super gutsy filly. The track was obviously playing in our favour (Party For Two led from start to finish), but she was still suspect at the 1200m. She was vulnerable.
“She had to work hard to do it. She had to work from the get-go. She had a little mid-race breather, but I put her under pressure again at the top of the straight.
“That’s not usually what I would do … I would try and nurse her around that corner knowing full well that she would be vulnerable over the 1200m but, the way the track was racing, I thought if I could just skip away a bit and get a break on them, she was going to be really hard to run down.
“Every time she has found the fence and led … she’s won.
“Isn’t it ironic that she was the horse who put me back on the map when I came back the first time after having my daughter … and now I come out and win the three-year-old Jewel on her.
“I’m starting to do a bit of work down there with Steve (O’Dea) and Matty (Hoysted). I just love Steve and Maddy and she (Party For Two) is a big stepping stone in that relationship.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the way she is going, the way they’ve presented her … and a special shout-out to Jordy Mallyon, whose just moved into the camp. He’s been riding her as well as Emily (Lang).
“It’s just great to be working with the O’Dea / Hoysted team.
“It was amazing. I am just so happy.”
Party For Two is now a four-time winner from eleven starts with $591 375 banked in prize-money.