The Joseph Pride-trained Coal Crusher (+380) smashed his rivals in The Hunter (1300m) on Saturday afternoon at Newcastle, careering away with the $1 million prize.
Tyler Schiller scorched the turf aboard the son of Turffontein heading straight to the front from barrier one.
He clicked along at a genuine tempo, putting a massive gap back to second throughout the 1300m contest, where the likes of Mazu (+250) and Military Expert (+900) simply couldn’t match motors with the battle hardened six-year-old.
The margin only got bigger and bigger as the turned into the home straight, as King Of Sparta (+450) and Rocketing By (+3300) flew home into minor money.
The chasing was all in vain, however, as Coal Crusher was off and gone with the prize, stomping his authority in a terrific preparation for Joseph Pride, who spoke after taking out the Newcastle feature.
2023 The Hunter Replay – Coal Crusher | T: Joseph Pride | J: Tyler Schiller
“We knew we’d be back here,” said Pride.
“He’s come back good this preparation, he’s been knocking on the door in harder races, and I know the handicapper will be watching, during the week and I’m still taken aback. I thought he was harshly weighed today.
“That was fantastic. I love this horse.”
He was then asked about the tactics by Tyler Schiller.
“Go fast and win,” joked Pride.
“That’s the way you win on him.
“I don’t think he needed to go quite that fast, but I’m not going to criticize a winning ride, but he really busted them up and maybe that’s what beat his opposition, cause he got them all out of their comfort zone.”
Tyler Schiller spoke post-race about his steer and the front-running masterclass he was able to produce.
“It’s a lovely feeling,” said Schiller.
“Especially when you know you’ve done all the preparation coming into it with the horse and Joe (Pride) was very confident with the blinkers going on.
“He said ‘he’ll travel a lot better for you’ and that he did.
“He got up and highballed and he just sustained.
“He’s on of those horses that just thrives on quick speed and he does it all himself, makes his own luck and he found very strong today.”
More horse racing news
