Zielke barn to be filled
Currie set to snap up stable room
RACING: Premier Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie is set to take over the Clifford Park stable block left vacant by the departure of John Zielke.
Zielke has elected to transfer his training operation to the Gold Coast after 12 months based in Toowoomba.
The former North Queensland, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast trainer occupied half of a new Toowoomba Turf Club on-course stabling block which opened last January.
Trainer Michael Nolan is the block co-tenant.
Currie is expected to be given club approval to move part of his growing team into the 21 boxes previously used by Zielke.
Toowoomba Turf Club chairman Kent Woodford said while it was “disappointing” for Clifford Park to lose a Black Type-level trainer, any horse void would be quickly filled.
“From a club point of view it’s disappointing John Zielke has elected to move on,” Woodford said yesterday.
“As a club we met all obligations in regard to John’s stay here.
“Our committee and staff accommodated him at every level and I don’t know what else we could have done to keep him here.
“Every opportunity was afforded to John but we’ll now move on and I’m sure have no trouble filling the barn.”
Toowoomba Turf Club caters for between 530 and 590 horses in work on a consistent basis.
The course proper is currently undergoing annual track renovations in the countdown to Toowoomba’s premier
when the Weetwood Handicap headlines the club’s Winter Carnival race program.
There will be no Clifford Park race meetings on the next two Saturdays or on March 24 and 31.
Dalby & Northern Downs Jockey Club stages its Dalby Newmarket TAB meeting on March 10 while Lockyer Race Club will host a Saturday TAB meeting on March 24.
“Our track renovations are occurring at present, and I think the course proper and all our tracks are in probably the best condition they’ve been in leading up to the annual maintenance work,” Woodford said.
“Chris Nation (former track manager) and his staff have left us a great legacy in as far as a track surface goes and now Dave Morrison, assisted by Paul Brennan, is doing a great job in maintaining a track the club is proud of after all the hurdles we needed to jump to get it to this point.”
‘‘ EVERY OPPORTUNITY WAS AFFORDED TO HIM BUT WE’LL NOW MOVE ON AND I’M SURE HAVE NO TROUBLE FILLING THE BARN. KENT WOOD FORD