NZB Southern Bonus Race Heating Up

New Zealand Bloodstock’s $50,000 Southern Bonus Race is now just over two weeks away and nominated graduates are starting to hit the track in numbers in preparation for the race.

Heading into the Southern Bonus Race in winning form is the Neil Coulbeck trained Kostalot (Any Suggestion x Elemosa) who broke his maiden today at Timaru by one-and-three-quarter lengths.

Kostalot had shown promise in his trials, winning two of three, before being unplaced on debut earlier this month. The three-year-old set the record straight this afternoon turning in a solid performance when running down rival Mikabella (Kingmaker) who finished five lengths ahead of the rest of the field in second place.

“He showed he had some ability in his trials and it was just a case of him putting it all together today,” commented Neil Coulbeck.

“We purchased the horse from the South Island Sale last year and he was a nice type. He still has some growing to do and he will be a lovely horse in another 12 months. All going well we will be heading to the Southern Bonus Race next up.”

Kostalot was offered by Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore Stud at the 2011 South Island Sale of 2YOs & Mixed Bloodstock and was purchased by the No. 8 Syndicate for $16,000.

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Southern Bonus Race will be held at Riccarton Racecourse on Wednesday 14 November. Carrying a $50,000 Bonus, the race will be an open three-year-old event over 1400 metres with qualified Southern Bonus Race graduates holding preference in field selection over non-qualified horses. The $50,000 Bonus will be won by the first qualified graduate past the post.

For more information on the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Bonus Race including a list of nominated horses, click here.