Belial
Race Images Palmerston North
A start in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate is not beyond the realms of possibility for emerging sprinter Belial, who steps out at his favourite track Avondale on Friday.
The Steven Cole-trained Domesday five-year-old gelding has won four of his 17 starts and will relish the drop back from open company to the AJC On Facebook Rating 75 1200 at Avondale.
Belial went too fast early at Ruakaka and faded late, but Cole was satisfied with the run and upbeat about his chances at Avondale.
"He ran his first 600m in 34 seconds. The jockey [Anna Jones] went too hard and it wasn't her best work," Cole said.
"He just blew out the last 600, but after running such quick early sectionals he was entitled to."
Should Belial race up to expectations under new rider Vinnie Colgan on Friday, Cole has plans to contest the 1400m open handicap at Ruakaka on Saturday week.
A winning turn there could clinch Belial a start in the Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on August 13.
"We're not ruling out a start in the Foxbridge Plate yet, but he'd need to earn himself a start. If he started stringing wins together, we'd look at carrying on," said Cole, who races Belial in partnership with his father David.
Cole rated the Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Persuasive, a Darci Brahma mare who has finished second in each of her last three starts, as the horse to beat at Avondale.
"She's got good form going into the race with an apprentice [Sam Weatherley] who is going really well and claiming three kilos," Cole said.
"We've got a senior rider and Belial is dropping back from open grade, with 58 kilos on his back at Avondale where he's won three out of four. We think we can be pretty competitive."
Cole's other runner this weekend is Al Maher two-year-old Mahirah at Te Rapa, while Pins two-year-old gelding Prized Pins will make his debut at Ruakaka on Saturday week. - NZ Racing Desk.
The Steven Cole-trained Domesday five-year-old gelding has won four of his 17 starts and will relish the drop back from open company to the AJC On Facebook Rating 75 1200 at Avondale.
Belial went too fast early at Ruakaka and faded late, but Cole was satisfied with the run and upbeat about his chances at Avondale.
"He ran his first 600m in 34 seconds. The jockey [Anna Jones] went too hard and it wasn't her best work," Cole said.
"He just blew out the last 600, but after running such quick early sectionals he was entitled to."
Should Belial race up to expectations under new rider Vinnie Colgan on Friday, Cole has plans to contest the 1400m open handicap at Ruakaka on Saturday week.
A winning turn there could clinch Belial a start in the Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on August 13.
"We're not ruling out a start in the Foxbridge Plate yet, but he'd need to earn himself a start. If he started stringing wins together, we'd look at carrying on," said Cole, who races Belial in partnership with his father David.
Cole rated the Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Persuasive, a Darci Brahma mare who has finished second in each of her last three starts, as the horse to beat at Avondale.
"She's got good form going into the race with an apprentice [Sam Weatherley] who is going really well and claiming three kilos," Cole said.
"We've got a senior rider and Belial is dropping back from open grade, with 58 kilos on his back at Avondale where he's won three out of four. We think we can be pretty competitive."
Cole's other runner this weekend is Al Maher two-year-old Mahirah at Te Rapa, while Pins two-year-old gelding Prized Pins will make his debut at Ruakaka on Saturday week. - NZ Racing Desk.