In a finish that had the Broadmeadow crowd roaring, Coal Crusher stormed to a historic second win in Newcastle’s $1 million Group 2 Newcastle Herald Hunter (1300m) on Saturday, denying jockey Tyler Schiller a third consecutive triumph in the feature and capping a dream spring for trainer Joe Pride.
The eight-year-old gelding, who led all the way under Tyler Schiller to claim the 2023 edition, repeated the feat this time with Chad Schofield in the irons, holding off a late charge from Accredited by a long neck. Kris Lees’ local hope Brudenell fought gamely for third, a length further back, while the Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained Clear Thinking — Schiller’s mount and the recent $2 million Kosciuszko heroine — charged home strongly from the back to nab fourth, just three-quarters of a length off the winner.
The victory, timed in 1:16.08 on a Good 4 surface, made Coal Crusher the first horse to win The Hunter twice in its seven-year history. It came 24 months after his maiden success here, with a third-place finish in between, and provided an emotional high for Pride’s son Brave, who shares strapper and part-owner duties.
“Our great horse has done it again,” Pride beamed post-race. His win means more to me than any other horse we have winning any other race. We had Ceowulf win the King Charles, but this victory has to be my favourite of the lot. I love this horse.”
Schiller, who had piloted the past two winners — Coal Crusher in ’23 and Briasa in ’24 — had backed Clear Thinking as his ticket to a hat-trick. The royally bred mare (foaled at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s stud) settled well back from her wide draw, much like her dominant Kosciuszko win on Everest Day, before unleashing her trademark turn of foot. But despite weaving through traffic and finishing full of run, she couldn’t reel in the leaders in the testing sprint. The race unfolded at a solid clip on the turf track, with the last 600m clocked in 33.47 seconds.
Schofield, son of Coal Crusher’s former rider Glyn, kept the veteran just off the speed before pouncing at the top of the straight, fending off Brudenell’s bid from Lees’ stable.
Schiller’s Other Rides Shine on the Card
Schiller’s day wasn’t without highlights. In Race 7, he guided Long Legs to a battling third at Rosehill a fortnight earlier, and the mare repaid the faith with a confidence-boosting effort here.
“She got a soft lead last time but quickened well,” Schiller had said pre-race. Post-cut, he added: “Stuck on gamely — she’s improving and ready for black-type company.”
Meanwhile, in the Novocastrian Electrical Midway Handicap (1600m), Brad Widdup’s Diamond Show improved sharply off her surprise first-up Hawkesbury win.
The blinkered four-year-old, who trialled poorly but fired on race day last time, settled midfield and hit the line hard for a solid placing under 60kg. Though the hat-trick eluded him, Schiller’s masterclass in the Hunter’s history books remains intact with two wins from three rides. As Newcastle’s premier sprint cements its status, all eyes turn to 2026 — and whether Coal Crusher, or Schiller, can etch their names deeper into the sands of Broadmeadow.
– Tully Potts
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