Australian trainer Ben Currie allowed to continue training after hearing

Trainer Ben Currie has regained the right to train horses after taking his case to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Thursday afternoon.

Currie was issued seven new charges last Friday by Queensland Racing Integrity Commission stewards for alleged use of a jigger on two occasions, unauthorised shockwave treatments, failure to report bleeding horses to stewards and raceday treatment breaches in contravention of the rules of racing.

Stewards arranged a show-cause hearing on Monday for Currie to give reason why he should be allowed to continue training, but he was unsuccessful at the hearing with QRIC stewards determining that all horses trained, owned, part-owned or leased by Currie shall not participate in any race or trial.

Currie immediately wrote to his owners indicating he would vigorously defend himself against "slanderous claims" that he compromised the welfare of his horses.

Currie went to QCAT seeking a stay of proceedings pending an internal review by QCAT member Robert Olding. Olding allowed the stay, up to five business days after the result of his internal review, which has an unspecified timeframe.

Currie's legal representative, Jim Murdoch QC, said the stand down orders imposed on his client were "draconian" and aimed at destroying his business.

QRIC released the following statement after the QCAT decision was handed down: "Following a Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) hearing today, Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie has been granted a stay of proceedings until five days after the handing down of an Internal Review in relation to seven alleged breaches of the rules of racing.

"The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission has 20 business days from the date of the original decision to provide the findings of an internal review.

"Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, the Commission will make no further comment at this stage."

Currie already faces 28 charges arising from a raid on his Toowoomba stables in April last year and four other unrelated positive swab charges.

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