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Trainer Ryan Balfour is “very excited” to step out a new Dare To Dream horse for the first time at Morphettville this Saturday
Glass Ceiling debuts for the stable in race four at headquarters, after recently being acquired from Victorian trainer Patrick Payne, and is part of Racing SA's Dare To Dream initiative, which gave 25 competition winners a chance to experience racehorse ownership via a share in two horses for themselves and nine friends.
"We're very excited to have a new one for the Dare To Dream guys coming through," Balfour said.
"It's a fantastic concept and it's great for new ownership."
Ryan Balfour said industry newcomers involved via Dare To Dream quickly embraced the experience.
"On Sunday we had an event at The Highway, where we had 100 people RSVP and we had a lot of Dare To Dream people get involved," he said.
"I actually have a group of them coming to the stable this afternoon to meet Glass Ceiling."
All Dare To Dream owners involved in Glass Ceiling will receive pre and post-race updates from the Ryan Balfour Racing stable and be kept fully informed about the horse's progress and plans.
A veteran of nine starts, including a win at Warrnambool, the five-year-old mare had one run in SA when under Payne's care and Balfour expects his acquisition to provide her new owners with "plenty of enjoyment".
"She'll be well placed here, particularly in the winter months ahead," he predicted.
"She's got very good wet track form and I think her form lines will stack up here when we get to that part of the year."
While admitting Saturday's wide draw makes Glass Ceiling's task a little more challenging, Balfour said she can be competitive over the 1050m journey.
"I guess the negative is we're drawn a bit awkward, but (Dom Tourneur ) will just have to pull out a good ride," he said.
"If she can have a bit of luck from the barrier and settle, and the tempo's good enough, I think she's placed well enough to run a cheeky race this Saturday.
"We've got the earmuffs on, just to have her switch off a bit, because her last start I noticed she overraced a bit.
"And if the rain comes on Saturday we would only get more confident."
