LEAVING CURRIE
OWNER PULLS OUT OF STABLE
GOLD Coast racing identity Mike Crooks has split from Ben Currie and will go his own way until the controversial trainer’s multiple charges have been resolved.
Crooks, who owns dozens of horses under his Mishani Enterprises banner, will begin a pre-training operation at Gleneagle near Beaudesert.
Currie has started four Crooks-owned horses this month and was due to get two more gallopers from him.
But Crooks says the two horses, which are spelling at his Gleneagle property, won’t go back to Currie while a suspension is in place.
Other horses who were set to be given to him to train in the future will also remain at Gleneagle.
Crooks will launch his own pre-training operation with UK horseman Leon Phillips, who has lived in Australia for the past four years.
“We will push forward and do a lot more at home,” Crooks said.
“Leon came to me initially
to do some pre-training and with everything happening with Ben I I just thought why not do it ourselves?
“Next week we will know more about what is happening with Ben and apply for Leon’s (training) licence.
“It’s quite exciting because I built the stable complex and tracks to do this but it has just happened quicker than what I needed.”
Crooks has horses with many other trainers around the state, including Les Ross in Brisbane and Les Kelly on the Gold Coast.
“We will have enough horses to give to others as well but I’d like to keep a lot at home,” Crooks said.
“We want to limit our numbers to 20-25. We have about 14 in work and about 50 overall and another 30 or 40 broodmares.
“I had a lot of success with Ben so it’s a shame it’s happening the way it is. We will watch it all unfold.”
Currie, who won the Magic Millions Country Cup with outsider Mr Markou on the Gold Coast in January, had Eight Over entered to race at the Aquis Park meeting today until the suspension was imposed by stewards on Monday.