Music will be pumping on track at Doomben on Saturday, but perhaps some INXS would be fitting if Joe Pride can win the Group 3 BRC Sprint with Coal Crusher.
The little known home-bred holds a special place in Pride’s heart, with the tough-as-nails sprinter running every race like it’s his last, but the gelding also has a link to Aussie rock legends INXS.
The son of Turffontein was bred by INXS’s former long-time manager Chris Murphy and given to Pride by his family to train after he died in 2021.
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Coal Crusher is also a family favourite, with Pride saying it is his son’s (Brave) favourite horse.
“He is my son’s favourite horse, he is still in Year 12 at school but he is bringing him up to Queensland, it is his first interstate trip so he is very excited,” Pride said.
“Chris Murphy, who used to manage INXS, bred him at his farm near Ballina, I think it is.
“He passed away a year or two ago, his family have raced the horse with me.
“He’s one of those home-breds that get better and better, I love him and he has a great racing, he gets himself up on speed and makes his own luck.
INXS manager Chris Murphy bred Coal Crusher for Joe Pride. Picture: Attila Szilvasi
“I just love his pattern, he has some serious cardio and gets up on speed. When he’s fit he is bloody hard to run past.
“He can sit just off them as well, he is so versatile, wet track, dry track, he just has such a good profile, he just seems to find a way to get the job done.”
Coal Crusher was well supported in all-in markets early in the week and only had his BRC Sprint chances enhanced on Wednesday when he was dealt barrier three in the $300,000 feature.
TAB has him rated a $7 chance.
While Pride said they would be unlikely to press onto the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap should they win on Saturday, he is looking to upstage some fancied rivals for the $3m race.
“He hasn’t won a Group race yet, but he is bordering on being around that level,” Pride said.
“He is good on wet or dry, he has been a bloody good horse to us.
“He had a nondescript start to his career, he was in a maiden at Orange and he has done nothing but progress ever since.”