Last season, Nikita Beriman guided Party For Two to consecutive wins at the Sunshine Coast and Doomben before finishing a courageous second to Exploring in the Group II Blue Diamond Prelude at Sandown Hillside.
Beriman has not been on the back of the daughter of Sidestep since finishing unplaced in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes – until Saturday's $500,000 Mr Racing.Au QTIS Jewel (1200m) for 3-year-olds at the Gold Coast, that is.
Making her first start since disappointing in the Listed Mode Stakes at Doomben in December, the Steven O'Dea & Matthew Hoysted-trained filly led them a merry dance. The ultra-consitent Supido gelding Kesalul closed to within a neck with the Defcon filly Red Defcon two and a quarter lengths back in third.
Bred, raised and raced by Telemon Stud, Party For Two advances her record to four wins, two seconds and a third from 11 starts with earnings of $591,375.
Telemon consigned Party For Two to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, where she failed to make her $40,000 reserve.
The daughter of Sidestep is the second foal and first winner for the Moonee Valley winning Pins mare Ponte Roma.
From the family of blue hen Miss Distinction, Ponte Roma has a 2-year-old sister to Party Two named Party For Us and a yearling colt by Astern, which was a $50,000 buy for Proven Thoroughbreds / O'Dea Hoysted Racing at the Inglis Classic.
Ponte Roma was among the 56 mares to visit Exceed And Excel in his final season in 2023.
