Trainer Ben Currie’s plan to get Sword Of Justice into a race with a low weight proved a winner when the galloper led all the way to win the Cascade Handicap at Doomben.
Sword Of Justice carried 59kg when he was well-beaten in restricted class at the Sunshine Coast two weeks ago.
But Currie decided to put him in an open company race on Saturday where he could also use apprentice Core Bayliss’ 3kg claim.
The plan worked out perfectly with Sword of Justice ($13) scoring by two lengths to Dreams Aplenty ($6.50) with a half neck to Oink ($3.60).
“He gas been hampered by big weights in a lot of his races and he has paid for his consistency,” Currie said.
“But we were able to claim the full three kilos today which meant he had only 51kgs which was a drop of eight kilos.”
Currie said he wasn’t getting carried away with Sword Of Justice but there were plenty of open company races in the next few weeks which would suit.
Bayliss had earlier combined with Currie to win on Mishani Hustler although he got a 14-day suspension for causing interference on the gelding.
Currie has now trained 99 winners on all tracks this season including 21 in the metropolitan area.
Earlier trainer Lauren Herne got her first metropolitan Saturday winner with One Stryke ($31).
Herne took over the team of her husband Brad Herne two years ago when he elected to return to working at Eagle Farm and she has had about 20 winners at provincial tracks.
“I was going to scratch him but Justin (jockey Stanley) rang me and said we should leave him in and it has worked out perfectly,” she said.
“Things are starting to go well and I have fully syndicated stakes horse Gold Symphony who recently joined my stable.”
