Experienced Coal Crusher set for Newcastle Stakes challenge

If Coal Crusher maintains his strong connection with the Newcastle venue, he could provide Joe Pride with an excellent beginning to his weekend on a prominent regional racing occasion.

On a quick six-day freshen-up from his Liverpool City Cup (1300m) defeat at Randwick, the gelding lines up in Friday's Group 3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m).

The track has suited him across six prior starts, yielding three wins alongside three placings, and despite the distance pushing his favoured scope, the dual The Hunter victor has conquered 1400m in past outings.

"The 1400 is the top of our range, but he's won at it before," Pride said.

"Now he is older and more sensible, he harnesses his energy a bit better and it's the right time to give it another go."

A day later at Randwick, Pride fields contenders in four Group events, including the feature races where Attica tackles the Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Headley Grange makes his comeback in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m).

Pride's heaviest involvement appears in the Challenge Stakes (1000m) courtesy of Mazu, In Flight and The Black Cloud, each preparing for a tilt at the Group 1 Galaxy (1100m) in Rosehill come March 21.

"I wanted to give them all a run before the Galaxy, so we will probably take our place with all three," Pride said.

"Any rain on the day would be good, and there is some predicted."

Giga Kick holds steady as the $2.50 market elect, while Pride's trio traded at longer prices Thursday with Mazu ($10) and The Black Cloud ($12) shortest, but Pride favours the $21 outsider In Flight on a softened surface.

"She's the widest one in the market, so go figure," he said.

"All three horses are going well but I feel like she is the one about to emerge and really launch her career this winter. But she needs wet tracks. She is nowhere near as good on the dry."

Check the online bookmakers for betting markets for the race at Newcastle.