Ben Currie has lost one of his stars in his quest to win the Queensland trainers’ title with top two-year-old Ilovevegas sold to Hong Kong.
Ilovevegas would have been favourite for the G H Mumm Handicap (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday but instead is being prepared for his new venture.
“He has been cleared by the vets so it is all go for the Hong Kong trip. I am sorry to see him go but he is going to prove worthwhile there,” Currie said.
Ilovevegas showed his class when he came from last to win at Doomben two weeks ago.
He has won twice and been minor placed three times from six sarts.
Currie leads Tony Gollan by 100-1/2 to 97 in the state trainers’ premiership after Gollan had a winner at Doomben on Wednesday.
He will start Pure Luck and Song One on Saturday.
“Pure Luck was also being looked at to go to Hong Kong but nothing has been confirmed,” Currie said.
“It is probably a bit short for him on Saturday but he might be too classy for them.”
Currie said he wasn’t getting ahead of himself in the countdown to the premiership.
“Tony will have big numbers at various meetings and he might have too much ammo for us,” he said.
