Currie produces treble in Clifford Park return
RACING: Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie made a successful return to the ranks with three winners at Clifford Park on Saturday night.
In his first day of training since being granted a stay of proceedings from QCAT, Currie produced a treble from seven runners on his home track, including Karaharaga ($4.60) in the AG Rigging BM70 Handicap (1050m).
The five-year-old sat fourth in the run before jockey Rebecca Williams peeled him off the back of leader Rotal Hootenanny ($10) upon entering the straight.
The move proved a winning one, with the gelding able to fend of a fast-finishing My Maisie ($9) to score by a long head.
Currie said it was a fitting reward for the consistency the horse has shown to date after running second at Gatton and the Sunshine Coast at his last two outings.
“He’s been a very consistent horse. He has sometimes struggled here and there to win, but he has been in the placings and has been running well. I’m excited for the owners,” Currie said.
“I was pretty confident. He came off heels top of the straight and I thought he would be strong to the line. It’s good to get the reward.”
Mishani Valentino ($6.50) made it back-to-back winners for the Currie yard, taking home the Winners Premium Soft Drinks Class 1 Handicap (1050m) by a short head to Wild Grace ($8).
In the fourth race on the card, The Showman ($2.15 fav) got the job done for punters, scoring by a long head in Gainsborough Colts, Geldings and Entires Maiden Handicap (1200m) and gifting Currie the running treble.
“He’s been a bit of a frustrating horse and had a few different trainers,” Currie said.
“The horse came from up north and has had three runs (for me) now.
“I was excited to see him get the job done, and the owners probably lost a bit of faith, but I’m glad they stuck with it and it’s good to see him win.”
Jockey Skye Bogenhuber made the trip back to Toowoomba to take the ride after partnering with The Monstar in the Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben.
Tisani Grey ($6) produced the upset of the night in the Joe Wagner Group Class 3 Plate (1860m), downing heavily supported favourite American Frontier ($1.30 fav).
The favourite appeared to be travelling approaching the bend, before the Kevin Kemp galloper stormed home to win by a short head.