Trainer Ben Currie chasing upset Oaks win

Losing one of his favourite horses from the stable is a blow but trainer Ben Currie is turning his attention to the Doomben meeting.

Just three days after Col ‘N’ Lil won Saturday’s Group Three Lord Mayor’s Cup, the mare has left Currie after being sold to clients of Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds at the National Broodmare Sale.

“Obviously I was sorry to see her go but you just have to get on with things,” Currie said..

Currie has had a great winter with more than 20 winners since the start of April including five winners at Toowoomba, his home track, on May 27.

He has Isn’t She Elegant in the Group One Queensland Oaks and Gully Command in the Group Three Spear Chief Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.

Currie accepted with Isn’t She Elegant in a $50,000 Three-Year-Old Handicap at Ipswich on Wednesday but decided to raise the bar.

“She has won five races and not many three-year-old fillies have done that. She is suited at Doomben over 2200 metres and she will be up on the pace,” Currie said.

“I’ve got an in-form Group One jockey in Damian Lane. I don’t think she will be disgraced.”

Gully Command, a last-start Doomben winner, is headed to Rockhampton for the Cup in a fortnight.

“He needed another run and this suits nicely,” Currie said.

“Saturday’s race is now 1600 metres and he has a perfect barrier (2) to be up on the pace,” Currie said.

“Gully Command has had three starts at the Doomben 1600 metres for two wins and a second.

“Blake Shinn has agreed to ride him and I give him a great hope.”