Kostalot staked his claim for the $50,000 NZB Southern Bonus Race with a solid victory in the Phar Lap Maiden (1200m) at Timaru on Tuesday.

“He showed he had some ability in his trials and it was just a case of him putting it all together,” trainer Neil Coulbeck said. “He still has some growing to do and he will be a lovely horse in another 12 months.”

Kostalot (3c Any Suggestion – Elemosa by Al Akbar) was all the better for a nightmare debut at Waimate earlier this month when stewards reported he jumped awkwardly and was checked at the start before racing greenly. Second-up, he ran down Mikabella (Kingmaker) by next to two lengths and there was a further five panels to Truth (Edenwold).

The Leithfield based colt was a $16,000 buy from Curraghmore Stud at the 2011 South Island 2YO Sale. He is by Rich Hill Stud’s champion first-season sire Any Suggestion and is a half-brother to the winners Knife Edge (Daggers Drawn), Bouvier (Perfectly Ready) and a yearling filly by Fully Fledged.

New Zealand Bloodstock’s $50,000 Southern Bonus Race will be held at Riccarton on Wednesday, November 14. It will be an open three-year-old event over 1400 metres and the $50,000 Bonus will be won by the first qualified graduate past the post.