An emotional Ryan Balfour has spoken in glowing terms about his stable apprentice Alana Livesey after she brought up her first Saturday metropolitan winner on his horse Picargo at Gawler on Saturday.
Livesey produced a confident, rails-hugging ride on Picargo, who was backed into favouritism at $2.90 and won convincingly by three lengths.
“She’s the backbone of the stable,” Balfour told James Tzaferis.
“I’m ecstatic, I did shed a tear when she crossed the line actually, just through relief for myself, no, for her!
“She rode that an absolute treat and I said to her, ‘You’re drawn one,” and she was a bit panicked by that, and it was a good field.
“I said, ‘Whatever happens, ride patient, and if you don’t have any luck, we’ve got your back’.
“She’s only had her metro licence not that long, she’s reading the play exceptionally well; distance races, sprint races, dirt at Port Augusta, so she’s doing a great job.
“I don’t know how to put it into words, I’m just so proud of her.”
As for Picargo, Balfour said: “He’s such an honest horse, he’s been knocking on the door. It was a peach of a win.”
The significance of the milestone wasn’t lost on Livesey either.
“It’s great to get that first metro winner, especially for Ryan on Picargo, a horse I’ve had a lot to do with, and some really good owners that have been a great support,” she said.
Balfour then went on to make it a double on Saturday when Viduka took out the final event on the program.
WATCH: Alana Livesey’s win on Picargo