Mason and Beriman streeting ahead in their Magic Millions chase

By Jordan Gerrans

The careers and lives of Jim Mason and Nikita Beriman have been intertwined for decades and the connection is now shooting for Magic Millions glory together.

Conditioner Mason has only recently moved north to the Sunshine State to restart his training career, which Group 1-winning hoop Beriman played a key role in.

The 59-year-old Mason has a prized Caulfield Cup on his training resume but he has been out of the form guide for around a decade before his return on Saturday.

It was a triumphant comeback for the former Victorian horseman as Street Chase got through the heavy going to claim the Pierata Plate over 1200 metres at Doomben in his first day back training.

Beriman did the steering for Mason on Saturday, just as she did as a young hoop when she was apprenticed to the trainer.

While it was special for Mason to land his first winner in a decade, it was extra significant to do it with his former apprentice.

“She ended up living with my family for a few years,” Mason said of Beriman.

“My kids kind of grew up with her. No matter where Nikita has been, I have always been involved with her career and she has been with mine.

“It couldn’t have been orchestrated any better to be fair the way it was on Saturday.

“The fact that the horse won, she got me here and she rode the horse – it was just a fitting day.”

Mason's last winner was in July of 2014 in country Victoria before Saturday's result. 

While Mason has not trained in his own right for a decade, he was not lost to the game as he worked as a right-hand-man to Greg Eurell at Cranbourne.

Mason trained Arctic Scent to a Caulfield Cup breakthrough in 1996 when he was just 32 years of age.

He considered moving north to Queensland a few years back after discussions with Caloundra conditioner Natalie McCall.

While those plans did not eventuate, Mason has ended up on the Sunshine Coast as a private trainer for owner and breeder Michael Sherrin.

Sherrin races his horses as ‘Sheralee Estate’ in their red, orange hoops, diamonds sleeves and red cap colours.

The colours were made famous by the deeds of Group 1 galloper Apache Chase a couple of years ago.

Beriman put Mason in touch with Sherrin and the rest is history.

“She has been instrumental in this as I have always had a bit of interest in coming to Queensland,” the trainer said.

“She rang me out of the blue and asked if I was keen to come up, which I was for the right opportunity.

“She put me in touch Mike and I spent two days at Mike’s place at Noosa and he is a passionate person.

“I quickly realized Mike is a guy that wants to go forward and he wants to get involved with nice horses, so I thought with that opportunity – I would be silly not to take it.”

Mason’s son of Zoustar has shot himself into Magic Millions Guineas calculations following Saturday's tough win in the wet.

Sherrin has always had a high opinion of the chestnut gelding and Beriman thinks the 1400 meters of the $3 million Guineas will be spot on Street Chase.

“I had a lovely run and he was impressive,” the senior hoop said of Street Chase.

“He worked to the line really well. I wasn’t 100 per cent comfortable on that going and he was able to pick himself up and class got him over the line.

“The 1400 metres for him is the right decision and probably in time he will get over a bit further.

“The 1400 metres is right up his alley and I am looking forward to it.”

In his return to training, Mason is utilizing boxes at McCall’s stable at Corbould Park as well as hosting gallopers at Sherrin’s property in the Noosa area of the Sunshine Coast.

He also has his son Toby by his side as the stable’s main trackwork rider.

“He is an incredible rider and the whole thing wouldn’t have come about if he didn’t come with me,” the trainer said.

“Track riders are everything these days and I am just lucky he made the move and he wanted to have a go.

“He runs the stable for me at Caloundra and I rotate between the two. He could have been a jockey but weight was against him.

“I told him that if he wanted to keep riding, one day training would be his go – he has far exceeded my expectations with the way he rides. He has been instrumental in it all.”

The team will move horses between the two facilities after their trials, races and track gallops.

The Sherrin property boasts a treadmill, which Mason says was key in his decision to shift north.

Street Chase is likely to have one more run before Magic Millions day on the Gold Coast early next year.

“When we have galloped the horse on the treadmill, his lung capacity is sensational – he recovers so quickly and not many horses are like that,” Mason said of Street Chase.

“I knew I had a good horse and if the track had been a Good 3 or a 4 on Saturday I would have been really confident – as I knew how well the horse is going.

“When it got into that Heavy 10, there was a lot of crossing our fingers and hoping for the best.

“I know he is a better horse on top of the ground and I am hoping we can see what he is really capable of when he gets on a decent track.

“I think he is a horse that needs his races spaced so I am in no hurry to run him again.”

The Mason and Sherrin team have about a dozen gallopers in work with a big focus on two-year-olds.

They have Creativity Miss nominated for the Maiden Plate over 1200 metres at Doomben on Friday as well as Toro Strike at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club on Sunday.