Episode 535: Luke Currie

Many punters have noted the absence of Luke Currie from the Melbourne riding ranks in recent weeks. The popular jockey has simply taken advantage of the off-season period to attend to a nagging knee issue he’s been dealing with for quite some time.  He’s making great progress and hopes to return to the saddle in just a few weeks. Luke Currie has had a presence among Victoria’s top bracket of riders for close to three decades posting more than 1500 winners with 13 Gr 1’s prominent on his CV. He’s been on our podcast shortlist for a long time and we’ve been able to make it happen during his current layoff. Luke begins by tendering a full report on his troublesome knee. He says the timing of his hiatus wasn’t ideal. He’d been riding winners everywhere. The jockey looks back on his Tasmanian upbringing and an early apprenticeship to his father Ricky. He looks back on a couple of winners in his home state. The system was such that any Tasmanian wins would have had an effect on his Victorian claim. He had to relocate as soon as possible.  Luke looks back on his time with trainer and former champion jockey Pat Hyland. He talks of a transfer to Robbie Griffiths in the latter stages of his apprenticeship, and the golden opportunity he was given by his new boss. The high profile jockey looks back on a six race association with champion mare Makybe Diva. Luke remembers his first Gr 1 success on hardy gelding Roman Arch in the famous Toorak Hcp. He pays tribute to mentor, confidant and friend the late Deane Lester. He reminisces about two C.F Orr victories on Suavito and Manuel. The jockey pays a heartfelt tribute to brilliant mare Sunlight  who provided him with ten wins including two Gr 1’s. He recalls her fighting effort to beat some star colts in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.  Luke marvels at the mind boggling money generated by Sunlight and her relatives in the sale ring. Currie will always have a soft spot for Hey Doc. He rode the sprinter-miler 27 times for 8 wins including 4 Gr 1’s. He reviews his two memorable Blue Diamond wins on Lyre and Artorius. Luke says he was thrilled to win the 2021 Newmarket for old friend Matthew Ellerton. He agrees his McKinnon Stakes win on Arcadia Queen was perhaps the easiest elite level win he’s ever been involved with. Luke looks back on his Hong Kong experience at the height of the covid pandemic. He won at his first race ride, but everything went “belly up” from there. He says there was one memorable development during his time in Hong Kong when invited to fly home to ride Mr. Brightside in the All Star Mile at Moonee Valley. The story had a happy ending. Luke pays tribute to his girls- wife Sophia and daughters Mia and Miley.  This is a laid back chat with a Melbourne jockey whose reputation for hard work and reliability precedes him wherever he goes.