Ben Currie investigation a massive test for QRIC top cop

[Chief Stipe]

Ross Barnett

Article Author

Ben Dorries

10 April 2018

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The Ben Currie investigation represents a massive test of the mettle, clout and investigative powers of Ross Barnett’s Queensland Racing Integrity Commission regime.

Currie, who has trained more winners than anyone in Queensland over the last two seasons, is convinced he is the subject of a witch-hunt.

QRIC is headed by Barnett, a former high-ranking Queensland copper who is a man not to be messed with.

A former deputy police commissioner, Barnett has investigated murders, rapes and shocking criminal offences in a police career spanning decades.

You wouldn’t like to be in his crosshairs if you had done something wrong.

By the same token, there is a feeling within some in the Queensland racing industry that QRIC is full of what one top trainer privately labels ‘keystone cops”.

Rightly or wrongly, some leading participants in Queensland feel that QRIC is something of a myth and many of their investigators simply don’t know enough horse racing to make much of a meaningful impact.

Currie has been the subject of many rumours over the last 18 months and he addressed some of those HERE in a Racenet story in November last year.

Now push may be coming to shove.

Firstly, Barnett issued a press release last Friday warning that QRIC would be out in force at Saturday’s Weetwood meeting in Toowoomba.

Then he fired off another release on Saturday, alerting everyone that QRIC’s investigations team had allegedly uncovered “suspicious activity” at Currie's stable on Saturday morning.

QRIC told everyone there was something allegedly going on at Currie's stable but no horses were withdrawn from races. What is the punter supposed to think?

Several of Currie’s horses were betting easers early in the Toowoomba card, and there were no early winners from his stable, but then Currie went bang with two well-backed winners, which included Weetwood winner Amanaat.

So where does the matter sit now?

When contacted by Racenet on Tuesday, Currie said he didn’t have anything more to say on the matter.

Barnett told us the inquiry was ongoing and, as such, he wouldn’t be “commenting on the run.”

While saliva, urine and blood samples were taken from Currie horses, Racenet understands Barnett will by no means rely solely on the results of these samples.

CCTV footage obtained from the Currie stable is being analysed and there are other things at play.

But if the whole matter comes to nothing, it will be a giant embarrassment for Barnett who will have effectively cast aspersions on the state’s leading trainer without charges being laid.

If QRIC does slap charges on the table, it will be a huge moment for Barnett who came into the job pledging to clean up the industry and weed out the wrong-doers no matter where he found them.

There are few bigger names in Queensland racing than Currie who has trained winners at will over the past few seasons and whose profile is growing every month.

However this investigation plays out, it will be a fascinating one to watch and an important one for the men on both sides.
 

Ben Currie (left) says he is the subject of a witch-hunt