Ryan Balfour is determined to carry on the family business and do his Dad proud
RYAN Balfour is determined to carry on the family business and do his father David proud after his dad lost his long battle with emphysema on Friday.
RYAN Balfour is determined to carry on the family business and do his Dad proud.
The Morphettville trainer is still coming to grips with the passing of David, who lost his long battle with emphysema on Friday, but knows he’s in a better place.
Ryan, who trained in partnership with his father up until the end of July, will be back at the track on Wednesday and wants to ensure the Balfour name is honoured as he continues his career.
“I just want to try and make sure I can carry on his name, do well and make him proud,” Ryan told The Advertiser.
“I want to consolidate myself in Adelaide as a respectable stable, so the top five is the aim this year. The owners and everybody has been fantastic so hopefully we can build on that.
“Dad worked really hard his whole life, he started in the stables so early and lived and breathed it.”
David was renowned figure in South Australian racing and took his talents around the world, riding for more than 18 years before embarking on a training career that produced more than 700 winners in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.
But the last two years have been a struggle as the heavy smoker fought the debilitating condition. So while his passing wasn’t a surprise, it doesn’t make it any less sad.
“I can see the positives in it for him, it’s just the numb hole of not having him around any more,” Ryan said.
“But he’s not suffering — he’s not fighting every day.”
Ryan, 34, said there’s been no bigger influence on his career.
“I started when I was about 14 in Singapore, that’s when I really got into it and I got a senior role as early as 17,” he said.
“Just to learn everything the way Dad trains, I’ve still got a lot of his systems in place.
“He let me put my own spin on things in the last two years but he’s provided the whole basis for everything I’ve learnt.
“Even last week we bought two horses at the ready to run sale for Singapore clients and we were bouncing ideas off each other watching it online at home.
“All those little things you take for granted. I’ve had a good apprenticeship with him.”
It’s been a particularly hard week for the trainer, the whole situation compounded by the shock death of apprentice Caitlin Forrest after a fall at Murray Bridge on Wednesday.
“The whole week was just tragic,” Ryan said.
“I’ve got a photo of her in my office sitting next to my computer now when she won on Light It Up — it was her last city winner and she’s got the biggest smile ever on her face. It’s unbelievable what happened.
“You can get caught up in it all but this last week really puts things in perspective that you have to take a moment and enjoy life as well.”