Two-time The Hunter winner Coal Crusher is set to race for the last time at Newcastle on Saturday, with trainer Joe Pride saying the veteran sprinter is likely to be retired even if he wins the $1 million race again.
Pride told Racing and Sports the nine-year-old gelding would almost certainly be having his final start in the Listed The Hunter (1300m).
“This will probably be Coal Crusher’s last run,” Pride said.
“He’s been a great old horse, he’s as tough as nails, but he’s done his job.”
Newcastle specialist
Coal Crusher won The Hunter in 2023 and again last year, and ran third to Briasa in 2024. Saturday will be his fifth straight year racing at The Hunter meeting, after he also won a benchmark 88 at the meeting in 2022.
Read more: 2026 Champions Sprint Review: What The Jockeys Said
The stable favourite has had 53 starts for 10 wins and more than $2.8 million in prizemoney.
His lead-up form has been well below his best, finishing last of 16 in the Group 2 Sydney Stakes and 14th of 15 in the Group 2 Russell Balding Stakes, but Pride is expecting a much better run with the blinkers going back on.
“He seems good, he’s fit and well, but his lead-up runs are not where they have been the last couple of years,” Pride said.
“I’ve waited for The Hunter to put the blinkers back on and he always races well at Newcastle so I’m expecting a much better run on Saturday.”
Accredited back for another crack
Coal Crusher is nominated for The Hunter along with stablemates Accredited and Kerguelen. Pride confirmed Accredited, runner-up to Coal Crusher in last year’s race, will line up again, while he is yet to decide whether Kerguelen runs in The Hunter or a benchmark 94 on the same program.
Accredited resumed with a close third behind Polyglot in the Choisir Handicap at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day, with Kerguelen seventh in the same race.
Read more: CF Orr Stakes 2026: Jimmysstar Leads Maher’s Hat-Trick Bid
“I thought Accredited was really good first-up and he’s trained on well,” Pride said.
“It’s going to be a very strong Hunter again so I would hope Accredited can draw well.”
Private Eye heads for a spell
Pride also confirmed fellow nine-year-old Private Eye has been sent for a spell after winning the Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day. The win was his 15th from 57 starts and took his prizemoney past $13.3 million.
“I’ve decided to give Private Eye a ‘holiday’, he’s gone for spell,” Pride said. “He’s going really well and we will look at an autumn campaign for him.”
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
More News
