MISSING from the riding ranks for nearly 11 months, Jackie Beriman returned to the saddle at Dunkeld on Saturday with a new member in her fan club.
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Beriman, 25, took time off giving birth to son Billy.
She will not be taking any rides this Saturday, as she will be marrying Billy's father - popular Warrnambool jumps jockey Darryl Horner junior - in Port Fairy.
"It's been a hectic time," Beriman, who holds a dual trainers-jockey licence said.
"It's good to be back riding. I've been riding trackwork for about a month.
"I had to lose a bit of weight to make the comeback to riding.
"I must admit I missed the riding while I was pregnant.
"Billy's four-and-a-half months old and I can't get over how quick the time has gone.
"I'm hoping to get right back into the swing of things as a jockey in the New Year.
"I'm just so lucky to be with Darryl. He's a hard worker and a great dad. The wedding is not going to be a big event, we're only going to have some family and friends there."
Beriman, who has three horses in work at her local stables, has ridden more than 200 winners in her career.
GLENFERRIE WIN
GRASSMERE trainer Adam Chambers took time out to thank Warrnambool jockey Luke Williams, after his filly Glenferrie Girl won a maiden plate over 1000 metres at Dunkeld on Saturday.
Glenferrie Girl, with Dean Holland in the saddle, defeated Briseur De Coeur by two lengths with A Little Luce back in third place.
"Luke's done a lot of work with Glenferrie Girl," Chambers said.
"She's a highly strung filly. She's not an easy horse to look after that's where Luke has been a great assistance. The 1000 metres is as far as she wants. I thought she did well in running second over 1100 metres at Hamilton last time.
"She's just really speedy. I'll have to look for races over the 1000 metres in the future."
A $34,000 purchase at a VOBIS Gold Yearling Sales, Glenferrie Girl has picked up more than $29,000 in stakemoney from her three starts.
BIG JOURNEY
REIGNING Warrnambool Galleywood Hurdle winner Big Blue heads out to England on Wednesday, to tackle feature hurdle races at Ascot and Cheltenham for former Winslow trainer Ciaron Maher.
Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, said Big Blue's main overseas target was the World Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Jumps Festival in March.
"I think Big Blue is the right horse to take to England," the Winslow export said.
"Big Blue jumps well and stays well but he will be taking on the best hurdlers in the world.
"He's going to have to be at the top of his game to win in England.
"One of my biggest concerns is how well he travels to England.
"Sarah Webster, one of our stable staff, will be making the trip with him.
"He'll have lead-up hurdle races in December, January and February before the World Champion Hurdle."
Big Blue rounded off his overseas trip with third on the flat at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
The eight-year-old has won three of his four hurdle starts including the Galleywood Hurdle this year.
"I rate Big Blue right up there with my former top jumper Bashboy," he said.
"I was thinking of setting him for another crack at the Galleywood next year but after a good chat with his owners we decided to make the overseas trip. They want to see him run against the best hurdlers in the world. He's a very versatile horse as is shown by his record over the jumps and on the flat, that's one of the reasons why he's so good."
From his 31 starts, Big Blue has won more then $745,000 in stakemoney.
DUNKELD TICK
TOP jockey Brad Rawiller's first visit to Dunkeld was a winning one on Saturday.
Rawiller, who had six rides at the popular meeting held at the foot of the Grampians, was impressed with the track and surrounds for the once-a-year race day.
He rode Now And Forever to a narrow victory for Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde in a restricted race over 1200 metres.
"It's a great race day," Rawiller said.
"I had heard a lot about the meeting over the years but had never rode there before.
"They get a huge crowd and they all seem to be enjoy themselves. The track was in wonderful condition and the amenities for the public are very good.
"The club does a big job putting on such a great day."
The Rawiller and Wilde combination was also successful at Donald on Sunday when Printmaker won a restricted race.
CHILDS OUT
JOCKEY Jordan Childs pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge after his ride on Earl Of Kendall at Geelong on Sunday.
The charge related to an incident near the entrance to the home straight.
Childs started to shift out to obtain clear running, and in doing so made heavy contact with Moshe Pit Gem which was hampered and carried wider. In the incident, both horses became unbalanced.
His suspension starts midnight November 23 and ends midnight November 29.
The race stewards took into account his guilty plea and good record, and that the carelessness was in the low-range.
