Currie case turns into confusing legal battle

TRAINER Ben Currie’s application for a further stay order of an internal review decision to stand him down has been deferred until next month.

In what is becoming an increasingly confusing legal battle, it means Toowoomba-based Currie can continue training for at least the next fortnight.

Currie was seeking a stay after the internal reviewer this week upheld a Queensland Racing Integrity Commission stewards decision to suspend him until an inquiry into seven charges including use of a jigger was finalised.

The state’s leading trainer, Currie had been stood down after a show-cause hearing where stewards deemed he had not shown he should continue training until the matters were dealt with.

Currie then sought a stay of the decision in Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal and on February 20 he was successful. That stay was set to last until five days after the internal review decision.

When the internal review was handed down this week, it meant Currie had until Monday to get an extension of the stay or he would be suspended from training.

This application was expected to be heard in the QCAT today but it was agreed by consent to extend Currie’s stay until April 3 when his application regarding the standing down order will be heard.