Looking Back 81) Bonanza

                    Bonanza Boy

Bonanza Boy was a 1981 born bay gelding by Sir Lark and his dam was called Vulmid.  He joined the Pond House team in 1988 from the Philip Hobbs’ yard and by his second start he had already landed the Welsh Grand National.  He proved himself as one of the stoutest stayers around with the annihilation of Run For Skip and the 1987 Gold Cup winner, The Thinker.

Only two runs later he produced the most unlikely looking victory of the season when coming from a seemingly impossible position under Peter Scudamore to win the Racing Post Chase at Kempton.  He then finished fourth to Desert Orchid in the Cheltenham gold Cup only a fortnight later.

Bonanza Boy captured the Rehearsal Chase on his seasonal debut in 1989, before duly following up with a second win in the Welsh National with a 15 length thrashing of subsequent Gold Cup winner Cool Gorund, despite carrying top weight.

In 1991 Bonanza Boy won the Ansells National at Uttoxeter, ploughing through the mud to record a twenty-length success to add to his many other wins.  Indeed he was still going strong at the age of thirteen and landed a Ludlow hunter chase in the hands of a certain Mr David Pipe.

After retiring from racing he enjoyed a very happy retirement with his owners, George and Angie Malde and opened many fetes and attended lots of fundraising events.  Indeed in a personal connection, my dad is a farrier and used to look after his feet during his retirement! He sadly passed away at the age of 30 in 2011 and is buried at home.

Bonanza Boy won 14 races and was placed many times as well all at the highest level.  While it is a bit difficult to get the early form for exact figures he won at least £139,000 in prize money and was rated 166 at best.  Other notable performances include a third placing in the 1988 Stayers hurdle at the Cheltenham festival and he also ran in five consecutive Grand Nationals, some achievement in itself!  He finished eighth in 1989 behind Little Polveir, 16^th in 1990 behind Mr Frisk, fifth behind Seagram in 1991, unseated in 1992 and ran in the voided 1993 race.  He truly was a remarkable high class horse and there are many photos of him displayed at Pond House and we have some wonderful memories.

Watch him win the 1988 Welsh National here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATK7yvCfLik

Watch him win the 1989 Welsh National here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHxjRZStehQ