Bona Vista - Stud Career

Stud Career

Bona Vista initially stood for at Hardwicke Stud in Berkshire for a fee of 25 guineas. In 1897 he was purchased for 15,000 guineas by Prince Louis Esterhazy to stand at stud in Hungary, where he was champion sire five times. Through his son Cyllene, and Cyllene's son Polymelus, Bona Vista's sire line is the most dominant in Thoroughbred racehorses today. Bona Vista's most notable progeny were:

• Cyllene (1895) – won a number of races as a two-year-old, before winning the Newmarket Stakes and Jockey Club Stakes in 1898. His most important win came as a four-year-old, when he won the Ascot Gold Cup. Cyllene was also a successful stallion, siring Derby winners Cicero, Minoru, Lemberg and Tagalie, along with the important sire Polymelus. Cyllene was champion sire in Britain twice. In 1908 he was sold to stand at stud in Argentina, where he also became a champion sire.
• Lady Chancellor (1895) – foaled the St. Leger winner Challacombe.
• Rose Tree (1896) – won some minor stakes races. She was exported to the United States, where, after going blind, she foaled Roamer. Roamer won 39 of his 98 races, including the Brooklyn Derby and Travers Stakes.
• Santa Casa (1896) – won several races, including the Fitzwilliams Stakes.
• Bonarosa (1897) – won the Woodcote Stakes and the St. James's Palace Stakes.
• Vahren (1897) – won some minor races, before foaling The Tetrarch.
• Bono Modo (1900) – won the Deutsches Derby.
• Patience (1902) – a filly undefeated in nine races, including a win in the Deutsches Derby.
• Orient (1907) – won the Deutsches Derby.

Bona Vista died in Hungary in 1909, at the age of twenty.