Trainer Ben Currie homes in on childhood ambition of winning cup

AS Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie ponders the next phase of his career, he would love nothing more than to live out a childhood ambition of winning his hometown cup.

Casual Choice winning at Doomben. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

AS Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie ponders the next phase of his career, he would love nothing more than to live out a childhood ambition of winning his hometown cup.

Punters will be backing Currie to do just that, with his talented stayer Honey Toast set to start a warm favourite in Saturday’s $100,000 feature.

“A lot of the others have been going week in week out and have ended up here, rather than getting specifically set for it,” he said. “I’ve had this on the radar for the last six months.

“It’s all gone perfectly to plan so far. We gave him that little freshen so he’s there with fresher legs and he should be right at his peak.

“Volkhere looks the danger. His run at the mile last time was pretty good.”

Currie is keen to follow in the footsteps of fellow Toowoomba product Tony Gollan and shift his stable to Brisbane.

“I’m only 24,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked for much more to this point. I’ve had 70 plus winners two seasons in a row and I think now is the right time to look at making the next move.

Ben Currie is keen to follow in the footsteps of fellow Toowoomba product Tony Gollan and shift his stable to Brisbane. Picture: Jono Searle

“I’m keen to get down to Brisbane and I was disappointed not to get boxes at Eagle Farm straight away, but I am looking at some other options and I’m hopeful something will come up.”

It could be a big day for Currie, who also has top fancies Col ‘N’ Lil (Race 1) and Love Spy (Dalrello) at the meeting.

“Of all my runners, Love Spy was probably the one I was happy to draw out a bit with because she’s got good speed and shouldn’t have too much trouble crossing,” he said.

“The query I guess is that we might be a sitting shot at the end because everyone knows our game plan.

“But on the plus side, she’s a lot fitter, 1200m suits and based on what she did at her second start at Caloundra she will be strong at the end.

“We’ve also put blinkers on for the first time which Jim (Byrne) has been telling us to do. She doesn’t have to improve much to be winning.”

Originally published as Trainer Ben Currie homes in on childhood ambition of winning cup