Billy Healey looking forward to new challenge

By Glenn Davis

Ambitious young trainer Billy Healey has come a long way from competing at a high level in showjumping and is looking forward to his new challenge after taking over the stables of retired trainer Mark Currie.

The 27-year-old Healey has three acceptors previously trained by Currie at Doomben on Wednesday and is hopeful of an early breakthrough.

He saddled his first runner from Currie’s former stable when Darth Invader finished sixth in a Benchmark race at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

Healey has been around horses all his life and broke in his first horse when he was 12.

He knew from an early age he wanted to be a trainer and began in the role with his late father Dale before he died of cancer in 2018.

Dale Healey’s death left his then 19-year-old son in charge of their 50-acre property at the Glasshouse Mountains in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

After talking over Currie’s stable, Healey now has around 80 horses in work at the farm and at Corbould Park.

“I started off as an equestrian rider and rode for a few years and competed at a good level until I was 17,” Healey said.

“I’ve been training for about 10 years and about eight years on my own since Dad died.

“I have a lot of great memories training with Dad and we had a lot of fun together.

“They’re memories I’ll cherish for a long time.”

Healey is excited about the future after taking over Currie’s stable and is thankful that he’s backed by a strong team.

“I’ve got great staff and my wife, Kelly, runs the farm side of things and the staff at the stables are great,” he said.

“We’ve had a couple of good seasons and I’ve taken over about 30 of Mark’s horses.”

Healey’s first city starters in his new venture will be Kinross Lane and Toroness in the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1200 metres while Black Eyed Blonde has made the field from first emergency in the Class 1 Handicap over 1110 metres.

Kinross Lane hasn’t raced since finishing sixth to the Chris and Corey Munce-trained Pocketmoney at Eagle Farm in November.

Former Victorian Black Eyed Blonde had one trial for Currie since his latest appearance when he won a maiden at Donald last December.

“Kinross Lane has been working well and should be competitive first-up while Toroness ran a nice race last time,” Healey said.

“Toroness is well bred and we’d like to win a metro race with her and this looks a suitable race.

“Black Eyed Blonde is up from Melbourne and having her first start up here and she looks like she’ll run further so she should be competitive, as well.”