Probably the most controversial figures in Australian racing, Currie, who was rubbed out from coaching in 2019 for issues associated to a “enhance paste” being administered, was working as a stablehand for his coach father Mark as a part of his reintegration into racing when the unbeaten three-year-old gained the Listed Gold Version Plate at Eagle Farm.
Currie, alongside together with his father have been charged underneath AR 240 (2) in that if a horse exams constructive to a banned substance earlier than or after a race, the coach and another one that was accountable for the horse at any related time have breached the Australian Guidelines of Racing.
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In a Toowoomba stewards’ listening to, Ben and Mark Currie argued the horse may have been contaminated by numerous folks on the day, with each saying they’d by no means used cocaine of their life.
Each Ben and Mark Currie pleaded not responsible to the fees, with Ben arguing it might price him his probability at regaining his coach’s license, which he may apply for in Might this 12 months after just lately upgrading to a steady foreman license.
“Simply because my identify is Ben Currie, I shouldn‘t get handled in a different way,” he stated after being instructed of the fees.
“This has by no means occurred earlier than the place a stablehand and a coach get charged for a similar crime, it’s double Dutch for a begin.”
Stewards confirmed though Finish Meeting‘s pre-race blood pattern returned destructive to any banned substances, his post-race urine pattern twice examined constructive to cocaine.
Currie argued Finish Meeting may have been uncovered to cocaine at any level throughout the 90-minute window between the 2 exams.
“There have been a number of homeowners there (after the race), there have been most likely a number of folks involved with him … It’s fairly widespread observe to offer the horse a pet and get a photograph,” he instructed the inquiry.
“I don’t see how I’m liable. I’m simply there doing a job I’m paid to do, the horse introduced effectively when it left the care I had it underneath pre-race, I by no means touched the horse once more.
“I haven’t seen this occur earlier than so I don’t perceive why I get handled in a different way, I’d prefer to assume widespread sense would prevail with you guys as a result of final time I touched the horse, it was clear.
“Why do I get handled in a different way once I’m attempting to come back again and do the fitting factor?
“I’ve been by all these items earlier than, the very last thing I need to do is be right here and do one thing that’s going to jeopardise one thing that’s going to cease me coaching once more.
“I cop this cost right here and it impacts me for the following 10 years, I can‘t get a trainers license as a result of I now have one other cost … My complete profession, my complete livelihood and my potential to go ahead on this trade will get affected from this horse having that, once I couldn’t even management it.
“If I get charged with something, I gained‘t get a license once more … At 31, I can’t prepare horses ever once more just about – do my actions right here deserve that when this has by no means occurred earlier than?
“It could actually’t probably go additional, it gained’t maintain up and it creates stress for me, my potential to earn will get affected and to not point out the media sits there and I’m the story swiftly.”
Whereas each events have been discovered responsible of the cost, stewards have adjourned the inquiry till subsequent week to find out related penalties.
Learn all the newest racing information by Trenton Akers.
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