Racing: Cole confident Belial can repeat on favourite track

Jockey Lee Magorrian rode Belial - "he was happy enough, " said trainer Steve Cole.

Belial will have conditions to suit when he returns to his favourite track today.

The 4-year-old has already won three times at Avondale and trainer Steven Cole is expecting another bold effort from the gelding in the Donna Rosita 1200.

"I'm going there with a lot of confidence - it's a small field and he should get an easy lead and, hopefully, kick away from them," he said.

Belial has drawn an inside gate to suit his free-going style and Shaun McKay's 3kg claim will further enhance his prospects.

The son of Domesday was a winner on a heavy track on the course four runs back and most recently was unplaced behind the progressive In Flight at Ruakaka.

"Lee Magorrian rode him and was happy enough. He just said they ran him off his feet on a good track and he boxed on okay," Cole said.

"The horse has done well since and with the weight off his back I'm sure he will be competitive. I'll take it a race at a time with him and if he does go well then there's a Rating 85 for him back at Avondale in a fortnight that he can run in."

Meanwhile, Keith and Brendon Hawtin are playing mind games with their stakes winning mare Miss Pelear at Te Rapa tomorrow.

The Te Awamutu trainers are optimistic they have the 6-year-old in the right physical order with the mare now requiring a boost in her self-belief to complete an overdue return to her best.

"Her feet have always been an issue, but they are as good as they have ever been," Brendon Hawtin said. "It's been frustrating trying to get her back to recapturing that form of a couple of years ago and we know she's good enough to compete in the big miles - it's just about giving her the confidence to hit out the way she used to."

Miss Pelear has had one run back from a spell and she will strip a fitter horse in the Civics @ Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge 1200 at Te Rapa, in which she will be ridden by Trudy Thornton.

- NZ Racing Desk