A group of angry trainers want the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission to intervene and stop the alleged ‘behind the scenes’ training of horses by unlicensed and controversial identity Ben Currie.
Their claims suggest that after his split with the Billy Healey stable, Currie has plans to move horses formerly trained by his father, Mark, to trainers on the Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba who would allegedly ‘front’ for him. (LGHR has been made aware of the names of these two trainers, one well established on the Downs, the other you wouldn’t give a goat to train).
The one-time forewoman for the Mark Currie stable has also reportedly applied for a trainer’s licence which would no doubt be granted on a restricted basis (allowing her to prepare a team of 10). There is already speculation of what association she would have with Ben.
A prominent Sunshine Coast trainer told LGHR: ‘It’s time QRIC intervened. This has been going on for too long. It’s a laughing stock. They should open an inquiry into why Billy Healey showed Ben Currie the door and question some of his staff as well.
‘We want to see something done about this situation before Kim Kelly apparently departs QRIC in disillusionment about the direction Integrity is heading under the recommendations of the recent Review.
‘Alarmingly, there are rumours doing the rounds that Ben Currie has the support of a new Board Member who believes he should be licensed to train again. How did he get on the Board – must have been an old mate of the Minister?’
EDITOR’S NOTE: The trainer expressing the above concerns is highly respected, was even prepared to be named and wants to talk with QRIC Stewards about what he and others allegedly witnessed during the time Currie spent with Healey where they claim Ben was attempting to usurp Billy’s instructions when it came to the training of the team.
