Kostalot (NZ) claimed the inaugural $50,000 NZ Bloodstock Southern Bonus at Riccarton on Wednesday.

Kostalot (3g Any Suggestion – Elemosa by Al Akbar) finished a well-beaten second to Biddedo (Edenwold) yesterday but was first home among those entrants eligible for the Bonus.  “We really liked him at the South Island 2YO Sale last year,” trainer Neil Coulbeck said.  “He’s a strong, athletic type of horse so to win the Bonus with him is a great result.”

The gelding went into the Southern Bonus Race after a last start win at Timaru.  Bred by Sean Kiernan, Kostalot was purchased from Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore Stud for $16,000.

Of the $50,000 Bonus, $40,000 goes to the No.8 Syndicate, with $5,000 going to the trainer and $5,000 to Curraghmore Stud who offered the horse for Sale.

The Southern Bonus Race will be held in 2013 for eligible graduates of this year’s South Island Sale.  Nominations for the race have closed.