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By Ray Hickson

A third win in The Hunter is on Joe Pride’s mind with evergreen sprinter Coal Crusher who will begin a very familiar looking campaign at Warwick Farm on Monday.

He stresses the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1000m) is the starting point for that preparation and will likely find it hard to win with 65.5kg on his back with stablemate Kerguelen, also potentially Hunter bound, the trainer’s top pick.

Coal Crusher, winner of the Hunter at Newcastle in 2023 and 2025 carries the full weight after Pride engaged Chad Schofield to ride.

“I went a different path two years ago but the two years he’s won it I’ve gone that race, Sydney Stakes, Russell Balding, Hunter. It works for him,’’ he said.

“A claim at that level is a waste of time because you’re going to be carrying a stack of dead weight. Chad can have his grand final dinner and be strong."

Trainer Joe Pride (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The nine-year-old ran third in the corresponding race in 2023 with 61.5kg and fifth last year with 60.5kg after Pride used a 3kg claim.

“He ran slashing sectionals last year,’’ he said.

“I’m not worried about the race, I just want him to turn up and have a race day.

“He’s a bit of a handful for an older horse, nothing nasty, he just needs a day out. You’d think he’d settle down by now, he’s a great old horse.”

Pride is well known for his competitive nature and he says it’s not beyond a horse to carry a weight like the 65.5kg and win under the right circumstances and it’s something he’d like to achieve.

“I wouldn’t dream of running a stayer with a weight like that,’’ he said.

“But I love things like that, I’m desperate to get a horse to win with that weight. At some point I’ll try to do it, I just like to prove points.”

Godolphin six-year-old Kerguelen has been marking time to resume with three trials and Pride said he’s expecting a bit from the preparation.

The gelding was a first-up winner of a Benchmark 94 at Rosehill last preparation but wasn’t as effective in three subsequent runs.

“He’s going brilliant, I’ve very happy with him,’’ Pride said.

“He’s had three trials which is unusual for a 1000m race but I wanted to buy a bit of time to get him ready for this.

“He’s got a good win in him, after running well last prep he was a bit disappointing but he had a virus and troubles with his feet.”

Kerguelen will likely take a different path to the Hunter with the Choisir Handicap (1100m) on Big Dance Day the stepping stone.

Pride has taken over the training of quality country galloper Mogo Magic though he says his expectations are well and truly in check based on his only trial under his care.

Mogo Magic hasn’t won since this week last year on the Kensington track and has been unplaced in his past five starts.

“I’m not overly confident, he looks well but I thought he threw the towel in the other day in the trial. I’ll just let him lead, if he can, and see what happens,” he said.

All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Warwick Farm meeting