Hell Raiser Claims $40,000 NZB Southern Bonus

The connections of the sixth placed Hell Raiser (NZ) (Any Suggestion) got an added bonus today with the horse’s connections collecting the $40,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Bonus for being the first eligible runner past the post in the $20,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Bonus 3YO (1400m) at Riccarton Park today.

The $5,000 purchase at the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale of 2YOs was one of three runners vying for the lucrative Bonus after being purchased by trainer Steven Prince at the Sale last year and entered into the Bonus race.

The daughter of Any Suggestion was ridden by Australian based jockey Daniel Stackhouse, working to the lead in the early sections of the race but unable to defeat race winner Whackomaco (NZ) (Fully Fledged) who collected her second raceday win.

Hell Raiser finished ahead of the two other horses entered for the Bonus, Our Castle (NZ) (Castledale) and Penultimate (NZ) (Pentire), to collect the $40,000 windfall.

“We purchased her at the Sale and paid up the money for the incentive but there was no pressure at all.

“We got her home and broke her in and the race wasn’t really on the radar. We took her to the races and the she ran fourth and then second so we thought we would have a go at the race, it is a really good incentive and that’s what you buy them for.

“She has got ability, she was never probably going to win today. The thing that worried me was the 1400m and she drew the outer. Daniel Stackhouse said that she has got a lot to learn but she is going to get there in time.

“These owners have had a couple of handy horses but it was like winning a Melbourne Cup to them, they were on the front stage at Riccarton on the microphone so they are on cloud nine.

“They are passionate about racing and, being from the South Island, it is a tough industry to be in. They are going to go back to the Sales, with the South Island Sale moving forward and becoming eligible for the Karaka Million, they have said they are prepared to pay the money so it is all good for racing.”

The winning owner Nathan Campbell, Adam Brown, Jason Coutts, Charlotte Young & Shane Forgie share $30,000 between them as the winning owners, with trainer Steven Prince taking home $5,000 and the owner of the filly at the time of the Sale, Mr V C & Mrs B L Mercer, also enjoying a $5,000 share of the Bonus.