WHILE popular young trainer James Healy was celebrating his first Black Type success with Arabian Rose in the Glasshouse Handicap at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, there were cynics raining on his parade. One wonders if they’re confused with Billy Healey.
You won’t read about this in the mainstream racing media which is ‘paid’ to focus on the feelgood stories of racing in an unwritten agreement linked to the millions they receive for publishing form guides.
But LGHR isn’t – and doesn’t want to be – part of a chosen group that now includes racing websites that those at the coalface tell us are receiving ‘cash for nothing but positive comment’ from racing authorities and major industry organizations throughout the country.
We take no joy in reporting this situation but it’s certainly not ‘fake news’ and those who follow racing deserve to know what is happening whether it is negative or not. We are accusing no-one of any wrong-doing but this is what some of James Healy’s training colleagues and racing insiders were saying after his career-changing success on Saturday:
‘Another big win for James Currie.’
‘When you lie down with dogs you eventually get fleas.’
And: ‘Why didn’t Stewards inquire into the massive form reversal by Arabian Rose? She couldn’t pick her feet up when favorite in Listed company at her previous start but this was arguably a much stronger race.’
Even the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission was made aware of the feelings of those who are now linking James Healy to a short-lived association between Billy Healey and Ben Currie as Racing Manager. Those close to the action say Billy fell out with Ben over just ‘who’ was training the horses in that stable. Who knows what this has to do with James, no relation, named spelled differently.
Ben was a talented trainer with a great success rate who deserves to follow in the footsteps of his retired dad Mark but he no longer holds a license and even his stablehand’s permit has apparently been revoked in more recent times. Controversy continues to ride shotgun with Ben’s career in racing which now hinges on whether as a Racing Manager he has the right to get involved in the training of horses. Time will tell.
In the meantime Stewards recently conducted a raid – which the mainstream racing media amazingly failed to report – that saw many of Currie’s perceived associates (trainers and industry personnel) have their mobile phones confiscated. This did not involve Saturdays’ Carnival headline grabber James Healy. One trainer who refused to co-operate was stood down. QRIC reportedly also took possession of the mobiles belonging to Currie and Billy Healey who has allegedly told them that the pair are no longer on speaking terms.
Where those claiming there is now link between James Healy (not Billy) and Ben Currie are getting their information from remains a mystery. It’s a strange twist and they will certainly need more than a ‘gut feeling’ to convince the QRIC.
As for the ‘form reversal theory’ involving the six-time winning mare Arabian Rose. Form experts say the Listed Hinkler at Eagle Farm wasn’t run to suit her when she finished a disappointing seventh. LGHR is more inclined to believe it was the Heavy 9 track compared to the Soft 5 on Saturday. Although she raced wide in the Glasshouse we saw no reason for an inquiry into an improved performance.
James Healy made no secret of his belief that Arabian Rose could win his hometrack feature despite the fact she started at attractive double figure odds and was desperate to gain a start when she was an emergency.
Those who don’t want to see Ben Currie participating in the industry in Queensland will have to await the outcome of what the QRIC detected from the confiscated mobile phone raids. It will want to be something pretty sensational to keep the ‘gingerbread man’ down.
HOOFNOTE: Our colleague Archie Butterfly reports on his website, www.peterprofit.com that ARABIAN ROSE used to be trained by Billy Healey but he sacked her after just one start for a second at Warwick. Healey reportedly believed she had a kissing spine and consequently her future was limited. She was transferred to James Healy who has won six races and $320,000 in Stakes.
