A week after combining to snare the Champions Mile at Flemington with Ceolwulf, jockey Chad Schofield and trainer Joe Pride are hoping to repeat the dose in a feature event closer to home.
The pair team up with Coal Crusher in The Hunter (1300m), the gelding striving to become the first dual winner of the $1 million race since its inception in 2019, having first captured it two years ago when ridden by Tyler Schiller.
An eight-year-old, Coal Crusher continues to race in great heart and the gelding holds some unfinished business for his jockey.
Schofield’s father, now retired hoop Glyn, partnered Coal Crusher to six wins early in his career, while Schofield junior is still chasing his first at ride number nine.
“Dad was riding him when he was a young horse coming through the grades,” Chad Schofield said.
“I think he had at least five or six wins for him.
“I haven’t won on him yet, but we ran second in the Sydney Stakes and fourth the other day, so I know the horse well.
“He has obviously been set for The Hunter and he races very well at that track so hopefully he can run a peak race on the weekend.”
Coal Crusher has been competitive at all three appearances this campaign, including when fourth to Jimmysstar in the Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) on November 1 when he endured a wide run from the outside draw.
He has gate four on Saturday and while The Hunter has attracted a deep field, the only Group 1 winner is 2022 Caulfield Guineas victor Golden Mile, a class drop Schofield hopes can prove significant.
“He was incredibly brave up the straight against the A-graders and he drops back in class,” he said.
“He is just a good, honest, old horse and he tries his best every start.”
A Hunter victory would be timely for the jockey, who will begin a one-month suspension stemming from his Champions Mile ride on Ceolwulf after Saturday’s meeting, returning on December 17.
