The feature race at Newcastle this Saturday is The Hunter (1300m), where in form trainer Joe Pride has a very strong hold on the race.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2025 The Hunter.
2025 The Hunter Runner Preview:
1. Iowna Merc: He was plain in the Russell Balding Stakes and he’ll be on the plane to Perth, I dare say for the Gold Rush. Not for me.
2. Robusto: Has a great record at this distance range and is being aimed, you’d think, at The Ingham. Trial was strong, good racing style…first four threat.
3. Coal Crusher: Coal Crusher has been set for this race for a fair whole for Joe Pride and looks cherry ripe after contesting the Russell Balding when wide, doing all the work, but he stayed on and was really good in defeat I thought behind Jimmysstar. That is the A1 form reference for this, so he has to be rated highly.
4. Estadio Mestalla: He’s either in for a career best prep or first up was a fluke…no idea what to make of it. Unbelievable given he is a 1400m/1600m horse yet savaged the line. The gate does make things awfully tricky though.
5. Airman: Better suited here vs the Russell Balding, but even then, backing him to do something positive here is just fraught with danger.
6. Golden Mile: Class horse when right and Blinkers back on…but gee his two runs have been awful. Can’t have him.
7. Ostraka: Am I missing something here? He’s $9.50…he should be $95. He has won up to 1400m but I feel he is more effective at 1100m/1200m. No chance in my eyes.
8. Brudenell: Home track advantage and lands in a plum spot, but 1300m is a bridge too far.
9. Darnation: She’s the one to watch from The Ingham perspective. Import making her Aussie debut, she’ll get back but be strong late. Must for exotics.
10. Cifrado: Good late last time at Eagle Farm but needs it much easier.
11. Accredited: Accredited should appreciate a rise to 1300m after resuming over 1100m at Randwick where he took a little while to wind up but presented to win and looked the winner but was nabbed on the peg by stablemate Estadio Mestalla. Fitter and up in trip, he’s one of the leading contenders.
12. Konasana: Good mare when right. Just depends if she’s ready to go. Market will be the main guide in that regard.
13. Phearson: He was my horse in the Winter and was flying without winning. The gate does makes things tricky but with a dig in the ribs, gee I think he’s dangerous.
14. Yorkshire: Yorkshire is a talented animal for O’Shea/Charlton that resumes. He is first up, with eyes on securing a Doncaster spot via The Ingham. He is better suited over slightly further but has trialled up very well, will spot them a start but be quite effective late. Watch betting.
15. Infancy: I think the price of this mare is insanity. On the minimum for a Group ll winner, home track, won’t mind give, she looks a big, big price IMO. Thought she ran very well at Flemington over 1100m, coming back from 1200m, and was good late. 1300m now, hopefully she doesn’t get too far back and can launch late.
16. Clear Thinking: Got an all time ride to win The Kosciuszko…may need similar here, but she is well in and is flying.
17. Felix Majestic (First Emergency): Jumps and runs if he gets a start and will give cheek but dare say will be weak late.
18. Romeo’s Choice (Second Emergency): Better suited in something easier.
2025 The Hunter $100 Betting Strategy:
$50 Win Yorkshire, $10 Win/$40 Place Infancy
2025 The Hunter Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | ROBUSTO | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 2 | 59kg |
| 3 | COAL CRUSHER | Joseph Pride | Chad Schofield | 4 | 58.5kg |
| 4 | ESTADIO MESTALLA (IRE) | Joseph Pride | Adam Hyeronimus | 18 | 58.5kg |
| 5 | AIRMAN | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 8 | 57.5kg |
| 6 | GOLDEN MILE | Joseph Pride | Jean Van Overmeire | 6 | 57.5kg |
| 7 | OSTRAKA | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Jason Collett | 10 | 57kg |
| 8 | BRUDENELL | Kris Lees | Tim Clark | 1 | 56kg |
| 9 | DARNATION (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Reece Jones | 16 | 55kg |
| 10 | CIFRADO | Rex Lipp | Ms Alysha Collett | 11 | 55kg |
| 11 | ACCREDITED | Joseph Pride | Andrew Adkins | 3 | 54.5kg |
| 12 | KONASANA | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 5 | 54kg |
| 13 | PHEARSON | Brad Widdup | Tom Sherry | 15 | 54kg |
| 14 | YORKSHIRE | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Zac Lloyd | 13 | 53.5kg |
| 15 | INFANCY | Kris Lees | Dylan Gibbons | 17 | 53kg |
| 16 | CLEAR THINKING (GB) | Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich | Tyler Schiller | 9 | 53kg |
| 17e | FELIX MAJESTIC | Gary Nickson | Ms Molly Bourke (a) | 7 | 53kg |
2025 The Hunter Odds
2025 The Hunter Speed Map
It will either be a fast run race or a controlled tempo. Coal Crusher looks the leader but what pressure will he cop? Will they ride Yorkshire with intent first up? Robusto can kick forward, likewise Golden Mile and Phearson.