Nikita Beriman would appear to be well on her way to mastering what we all would like to achieve … a healthy work-life balance.
With the relentless, demanding pace of the racing schedule, that option is not readily available to all of those involved in the industry. Rather, it is an option that has to be manufactured by the individual themselves … to suit themselves … and Beriman has both moulded and implemented an absolute winning formula in that regard.
When Beriman stepped out of retirement back in November, after a three-year-break from race riding, she knew exactly what she wanted to do.
“I obviously have my priority … which is my daughter, Ella. Through the week I like to spend my time with her, explained Beriman.
“I ride work for Nat (McCall) … and that’s about it. Obviously, because I don’t ride outside work it is hard to break into a new stable when there is a variety of jockeys … especially based in Brisbane, who come in every day and ride trackwork … so they can’t just take the hard workers off and put me on.
“On the odd Wednesday’s I’ll go to town, but I’m probably less appealing to connections because I only really ride weekends, but that is the parameters I have set … and I’m very happy with that.
“Prior to coming back this time around, I was so racing orientated that I didn’t know there was an outside world and now I have something away from racing and, most importantly, my daughter which takes up my time,” continued Beriman.
“It really grounds you and I’m enjoying life so much more for it.
“I love what I do. I thrive on it. I’m thriving at riding and thriving at being a mom.
“It’s great to be able to enjoy the best of both worlds.”
Even with, in theory, limiting her own opportunities, Beriman has indeed thrived both results-wise and profile-wise in the last two months.
The quality of her undiminished riding skills has been apparent from the start for all to see and a sixteen percent winning strike rate from her last fifty rides underlines her value as a rider.
And Saturday’s results at Doomben, where Beriman rode a double, on the Damien Batters trained Party For Two and the Garnett Taylor trained Bold And Lucy, added more impetus to her already steadily growing, positive profile that has been unfolding since her return.
Beriman won those races when adopting two completely race strategies, winning from the front on Party For Two (the $1.70 race favourite) and when surging from the tail of the field aboard Bold And Lucy (a $31 chance) … displaying both superb riding skills and great racing judgement in the process.
Bold And Lucy, incidentally, was the horse that gave Beriman her first win back after she had re-joined the jockey ranks in November … while Party For Two ticked another box by giving Beriman her first ever win at Doomben.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a better place in my life … riding-wise, lifestyle style … everything is just so great,” concluded an obviously very happy and contented Beriman, which was great to see.
