First Of The $150,000 Mercedes Super Bonus 2yo Preludes This Saturday
17 December 2003
The race is open to graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales which are enrolled in the Mercedes Super Bonus Series and has attracted a quality field of 11 colts and geldings.
All eyes will be on two young geldings in particular - the first is the John Sargent and Karl Allpress trained Successor (Bahhare x Betty Doolin) who won at his last start taking home the $50,000 Mercedes Jackpot bonus at Avondale earlier this month. The second is the Peter McKay trained Clifton Prince (Volksraad x Trickery) who has also dipped into the bonus pool with a $10,000 bonus win in Wellington on 25 October. This classy contender currently has three wins from three starts under his belt.
Also running on Saturday is Sir Slick (Volksraad x Miss Opera) trained by Graeme Nicholson who ran third to Successor at his last start at Avondale on 3 December.
The Paul O'Sullivan trained Bez Bazara (Daggers Drawn x Russian Slice) along with the Evan and JJ Rayner trained Doc Holliday (Marju x Santa Evita) have each only one start to their names so far. Other bonus contenders include the Graeme Rogerson and Stephen Autridge trained Sharka Zulu (Lion Hunter x High Twinkle) and the Graeme Sanders and Debbie Sweeney trained Victory Strike (Straight Strike x Victory Leah).
Saturday's bonus race is the first of three big bonus races this summer. The $150,000 Mercedes 2YO Fillies Prelude will take place at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and will be followed by the highlight of the Super Bonus season � the $500,000 Mercedes Classique at Te Rapa on 31 January 2004.
For more information on the Mercedes Super Bonus Series please contact Petrea Vela at New Zealand Bloodstock on (09) 298 0055 or petrea@nzb.co.nz, or view the New Zealand Bloodstock website at www.nzb.co.nz which is updated after each race.