It has been six months in the making, but Ryan Houston finally repaid Grahame Begg a Saturday city success when he won aboard British Columbia at Caulfield on Saturday.
The win in the $130,000 Sportsbet Same Race Multi Handicap (1400m) was the first Saturday city winner for the 20-year-old apprentice.
Houston has passed the post first on a Saturday, however, aboard Rivaport at Flemington on January 13, only to be relegated to third after causing interference on the home turn.
Rivaport, like British Columbia, is trained by Begg, who has been a devoted supporter of Houston.
“That race still haunts me to this day but it’s good to get my first Saturday winner officially for Grahame,” Houston said.
“He gives me a fair few good rides and I’m just grateful he’s on my side.”
Begg was thrilled to see Houston make the most of the opportunity aboard a horse who had been out of the winner’s stall since May last year.
“Ryan’s going along very, very well, we identified early doors that he’s a young rider with a lot of potential,” Begg said.
“He’s coming into his own at this time of year and he’s got the job done very, very well today.”
Houston made full use of British Columbia carrying just 53.5kg after his 3kg claim to bely the son of Vancouver’s $21 starting price.
The five-year-old sat just off leader Frumos before pouncing on the front at the top of the straight and powering away for a 2-1/4-length win $3.40 betting app favourite Nation’s Call, with Miracle Spin ($17) one length away third.
“He didn’t look like he was going to lose down the straight,” Houston said.
“He did everything right; sat off the leader and then I just let him go down the straight.
“I was coming into this race confident and everything went to plan.”
The win on British Columbia was Houston’s 74th career success and eighth at metropolitan level with the other seven having come in midweek events.
