Curran could join Group 1 winners Nature Strip and Gytrash if successful in the Listed A R Creswick Stakes at Flemington.
Mother and daughter training team of Lyn Tolson and Leonie Proctor are not noted for being big time players on the metropolitan circuit.
Of their 78 career wins, 11 have come on metropolitan tracks, including four at Flemington, where they will saddle Curran in the Listed A R Creswick Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Tolson and Proctor have tasted success in a ‘stakes race’ just once previously with Well Sprung taking out the Listed McKenzie Stakes at The Valley in 2015.
Should Curran take out Saturday’s Listed race, he will join illustrious company with Nature Strip (2018) and Gytrash (2019) being successful while up-and-comer Front Page scored last year.
But win, lose or draw, Curran owes Tolson and Proctor nothing having returned $258,740 in prize money along with a further $48,000 in Super VOBIS bonus money.
Tolson and Proctor along with Ricky Cartwright, Proctor’s partner, share in the ownership of the gelding who was a $600 purchase.
A further $3000 was spent on a throat operation.
“He’s well and truly earned his money back and yes, he’s our favourite,” Proctor said.
“We know he’s a progressive horse and he will go to the paddock after this run. He’s already done everything he can for us so far, and if he won, that would be great.”
Curran is a Flemington straight track winner and has also been successful at 1200m, but this time he will have to carry 59kg under apprentice Matthew Cartwright, Proctor’s son.
He is also running on a soft track for the first time, although Proctor does not see that as a problem.
She also said Curran was versatile.
“He can race back, or he can be up there depending on the pace of the race,” Proctor said.
“We trialled him at Cranbourne after he ran two seconds at Sandown and he got through the going no problems.
“He’s got big flat feet, so I don’t think it will be an issue.”
