Qld trainer Ben Currie granted a stay

Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie has been granted a stay of a suspension arising out of a show cause hearing earlier this week and can resume training immediately and work his horses.

Currie was suspended immediately after a show cause hearing before Queensland Racing Integrity Commission stewards on Monday.

He was asked to appear to show why he should not be stood down after seven charges including allegations of jiggers and shock therapy were made against him on Friday.

Currie was suspended until his matters are determined by an internal review.

He then went to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal seeking a stay of the stewards’ order pending the review.

After a five-hour hearing on Thursday, Member Robert Olding granted a stay and said he would publish his reasons at a later date.

Jim Murdoch QC told the QCAT hearing that Currie had been suspended without being convicted of anything.

He said Currie would be pleading not guilty and denied ever using a jigger or instructing anyone to use a jigger on a horse.

Murdoch said Currie had run Currie Racing since 2009 and it now had 85 to 90 horses, 15 full-time staff and many casual or contract workers.

“The decision has a direct impact on Currie, his family, his employees and contractors who rely on Currie Racing, ” Murdoch said.

He described the suspension as “draconian” and aimed at ruining Currie’s business.

Currie will be in the Supreme Court on Friday for a judicial review of other unrelated charges against him.