KEY POINTS:
Nikita Beriman scored one of the most unlikely Group One wins ever when she fought back from diabetes and chronic weight problems to win the Emirates Stakes at Flemington on outsider Tears I Cry.
Bookmakers bet as much as $151 about Tears I Cry who started at $101 and was the first Group One runner for 21-year-old Beriman and 26-year-old Warrnambool trainer Ciaron Maher.
Only last spring stewards told Beriman to seek professional help after her 10th weight-related offence but yesterday she got down to 51kg to ride the race of her life on Tears I Cry.
Back as far as 12th in the 16-horse field at the 800m, Beriman was tracking Steven Arnold on Cox Plate runner-up Wonderful World rounding the home turn and peeled off to make her winning run in the straight.
Beriman rode hands and heels as Tears I Cry hit the lead at the 200m and then had to straighten him and go for the whip in the last 100m to win by three-quarters of a length. Bird Dancer ($91), ran home strongly to finish second and Shinzig, another outsider at $81, was a length away third.
Boom 3-year-old Weekend Hussler, who had won the Group One Caulfield Guineas and Group One Ascot Vale Stakes at his last two starts, started $2.35 favourite but not long after straightening was a beaten horse and finished 10th.
Wonderful World also failed to fire and finished second last.
Beriman was one of Victoria's leading apprentices and Melbourne Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams recognised her talent when he took her in and gave her a chance on his horses before weight problems again troubled her.
She had only 212 rides for 20 wins last season while Tears I Cry was her only ride yesterday and just her sixth win from just more than 50 rides this season.
Beriman partnered Tears I Cry to his maiden win at Warrnambool in June and at her only other ride won on him again on his home track in July.
The gelding's rise has been rapid, just as it has been for Maher who retired as a jumps jockey because of weight less than three years ago to become a trainer.
"It is unbelievable," Maher said, shedding tears. "I always had the vision to train and it is unbelievable this has come around so quick."
On Melbourne Cup day Craig Williams rode Tears I Cry and he finished fourth in a tune-up for yesterday.
- AAP
