Jonsson News: See It Gelded, Striker Still In Favour, Double Retired

Nick Jonsson leads in See It Again after Piere “Striker” Strydom had ridden the Michael Roberts-trained son of Twice Over to Gr 1 Daily News 2000 victory (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Prolific owner Nick Jonsson has taken the decision to geld his dual Gr 1-winning Twice Over star See It Again and he has the R6 million Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup as his first big race target, while his other dual Gr 1-winning Twice Over star Double Superlative has been retired.

He spoke about some of his other good horses at present too.

He said about the Michael Roberts-trained See It Again, ” He took his gelding well, it seems, and he’s back at work already and we’re hoping that it’ll do the trick. He wasn’t himself and he’s still got a lot of ability, he’s sound, he’s a great racehorse and we want to win big races with him, so let’s have a go.”

Nick was asked whether he believed See It Again would be suited to the Turffontein Standside course with its long straight.

He said, “I’m undecided whether he will or he won’t, he’s got quite a turn of foot, but let’s see. It’s a big race, so why not have a go. I think if things go his way he could win it.”

Regarding the rider for the Summer Cup he replied, “We haven’t got that far yet, but I don’t see any reason why Striker shouldn’t ride him. He’s running in Johannesburg and frankly, unless Striker retires between now and then, I think it would be foolish to not put him on the horse. I haven’t spoken to him and don’t know what his plans are, but Turffontein is his home ground.”

Nick’s Justin Snaith-trained Gr 1 Cape Guineas and Gr 1 WSB Met winner Double Superlative, who is now a six-year-old entire, was largely disappointing in three races in Durban at the end of last season. Those runs formed something of a comeback, because his retirement with the view of sending him to stud had been announced after his Met win.

Nick said about Double Superlative, “I haven’t planned anything at the moment, I haven’t worked it out yet, but he’s just having a rest. But he’s retired, he’s not going to run again.”

Nick said he had some promising three-year-olds and mentioned the Snaith-trained quartet Great Plains, Roman Agent, Eight On Eighteen and Powerandtheglory.

He said, “Great Plains won three in a row in KZN in the season (all over 1400m) and one of them was a Listed race (giving Danon Platina his first stakes winner). He is a nice horse.”

He continued, “Roman Agent has also won a Listed race. He was ahead of himself so we’ve gelded him. We tried him over seven furlongs, I don’t hink he gets it. So, we’re going to stick to the shorter distances with him, and I think he’ll have a good season.”

He added, “We’ve got the Lancaster Bomber colt Eight On Eighteen who won the Langerman. He’s a very nice horse.”

He said, “We have the Gimmethegreenlight half-brother to Double Superlative, the colt Powerandtheglory, who beat Stated second time out over 1400m by 2,75 lengths and Stated then came out and won by 6,25 lengths.”

He concluded, “We’ve got a few other nice horses that haven’t really done much yet and a lot happens between now and December.”

Nick had a good day on Tuesday at Hollywoodbets Durbanville with two winners, both trained by Snaith.

Rapidash (Danon Platina) had his first win since landing the R7,5 million Gold Rush on Met day earlier this year, but Nick did point out that although it was a good run (over 1600m off a 104 merit rating) he was getting 6,5kg from the shorthead runner up Pacaya (MR 115), although he added that Pacaya was a very nice horse.

Call To Unite (Vercingetorix) won well over 1800m off an 87 merit rating and Nick said, “A year ago we thought a lot of him and he just went off a bit. He had a long break and we’re hoping he will have matured and settled down a bit.”

He was very pleased with the run of the former Gr 3 Politician Stakes winner Rockpool, who finished four lengths behind Rapidash giving him 1kg. He said about the horse with the unusual action but whom has a huge stride, “He hasn’t run since January. He hasn’t had a grass gallop because of all the rain and Durbanville is not really his happy place, so it was a helluva comeback run.”

Rockpool was fancied a couple of season back to have a good Champions season, but he just did not like the tracks in KZN, and Nick said it had been the same for Mucho Dinero this season. He said the latter had been “flying” since returning to Cape Town.

Back In Business Raised Ten Points

The Joe Soma-trained Back In Business being led in after winning the Listed Betway Spring Spree Stakes on Saturday at Turffontein Inside (JC Photos)

Handicappers Ratings Update

BETWAY SPRING SPREE STAKES (Listed)

BACK IN BUSINESS has had his rating adjusted to 106 from 96 after easily landing the Listed Betway Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m at the Turffontein Inside Track on Saturday. The Handicappers unanimously agreed that 3^rd placed ZINOVI made for the most suitable line horse here, and his rating remains unchanged on 114.

Second placed, longtime leader, CLIFF HANGER, was the only other horse to receive a ratings increase and is up to 111 from 106. CLIFF HANGER finished 2.2 lengths or 5 points ahead of the 114 rated line -horse, ZINOVI, while in receipt of 4 kg or 8 points in weight. This makes CLIFF HANGER perform to a rating of 111.

Two horses received slight drops following this contest. HALBERDIER drops to 88 from 89, while FIRE ‘N FLAMES also dropped 1 point, from 98 to 97.

JOCKEY CLUB STAKES (Listed)

JOY AND PEACE who is unbeaten in her last 5 starts has seen her rating increased from 107 to 110 following her impressive win in the Listed Jockey Club Stakes over 2000m at Fairview Racecourse on Friday. It was 5^th placed FLOWER OF SAIGON who was deemed to be the most suitable line horse, leaving her rating unaltered on 102.

The winner aside, three other horses received upward adjustments in their ratings. 2^nd placed CRIMSON PRINCESS was adjusted to 102 from 99 while 4^th placed OFFICIAL SECRET went up to 101 from 96. Sixth placed UNYIELDING, who was rated to finish last on a rating of 80, received a partial increase from 80 to 88 which makes her higher than the 85 rated CHERE FOR ME whom she beat here at level weights.

No runner received a drop in the ratings except for CHERE FOR ME who had already dropped 1 point after her penultimate start.

Enquiries:

The Handicapping Team

Dettori And O'Brien Team Up In $2 million races In USA on Saturday

Mountain Bear (left): runs in the Mint Million Stakes

Credit: Patrick McCann

Frankie Dettori and Aidan O’Brien team up with three runners on a valuable Kentucky Downs card on Saturday

Jack Haynes (Racing Post)

Fresh from a Nashville Derby victory aboard the Andrew Balding-trained Bellum Justum at Kentucky Downs last weekend, Frankie Dettori is teaming up with Aidan O’Brien for three rides in races worth $2 million (£1.53m/€1.81m) at the track on Saturday. Here we provide the lowdown on those mounts . . .

Greenfinch

8.27 Kentucky Downs

Greenfinch won a Listed race against her own sex at Killarney and steps up to Grade 3 company in the Light & Wonder Ladies Marathon Stakes.

The daughter of Justify is the sole three-year-old in the nine-runner field and is receiving weight from her rivals.

She has been beaten on her two previous attempts in Group company but is open to improvement at this 1m2½f trip.

Her opposition includes the Roger Varian-trained Three Priests, who was fourth in a 1m4f Listed race at Pontefract last time and is ridden by John Velazquez.

Mountain Bear

9.41 Kentucky Downs

Mountain Bear will be a name more familiar to US racing fans as he finished second to stablemate Unquestionable in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita last year.

He has failed to score in four starts at three but ran well when a two-length fourth behind Haatem in the Jersey at Royal Ascot and was a running-on half-length second in a Group 3 at Leopardstown last time.

A mile on firm ground should suit this son of No Nay Never and he should be in the mix in an open Mint Million Stakes.

Charlie Hills and Jamie Spencer combine with Ancient Rome, who is another leading player on the back of his keeping-on third in the Arlington Million at Colonial Downs last time.

Chief Little Rock

10.55 Kentucky Downs

Chief Little Rock bids to bounce back from a below-par effort in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot when contesting the FanDuel TV Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes.

He is the sole three-year-old in the Grade 2 over 1m4f and was a convincing winner of the Gallinule at the Curragh on his penultimate start.

His form also ties in with Nashville Derby winner Bellum Justum as he finished third to King Power Racing’s three-year-old in Epsom’s Blue Riband Trial on his reappearance in April.

Cruise Control Is Back In Gqeberha And Ready To Cruise

Cruise Control will be out to land a 12th career victory on Friday in the Non-Black Type Speedsters Stakes over 1000m on the Fairfview turf (Pauline Herman Photography)

Henk Steenkamp

The Gavin Smith stable will be aiming at a fourth consecutive win in the R175 000 Speedsters Stakes (NBT) over 1000m at the Fairview Turf track on Friday.

With the five-year-old Querari gelding Cruise Control back in town, Smith has an excellent chance of another victory.

Cruise Control returned to the Eastern Cape after three runs for the Duncan Howells yard in KwaZulu-Natal.

The run for fourth place in the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint underlined his class and we have seen what Cruise Control has done on the Fairview turf over this trip – three victories from four starts.

It is exciting to see Louie Mxothwa back in the saddle. He won three in a row with Cruise Control before the stint in KZN.

Cruise Control, the winner of this race two years ago, is not the biggest of horses but has proved he has no problem carrying 62kgs to victory.

It is a small field of six runners but the favourite’s rivals are all in good enough form to strike if Cruise Control fluffs his lines.

There are two Cape Town visitors in Speed Machine (Justin Snaith) and Blue Holly (Glen Kotzen).

Speed Machine seems to be back to his best. He gets the blinkers fitted to help him concentrate on his task at hand and could give Cruise Control a run for his money.

Blue Holly is the only filly in the race and her handy galloping weight of 53kgs is a huge advantage.

One can never write off the chances of Evies First. Trainer Juan Nel has done a great job to keep the seven-year-old performing at his best.

Slim Jannie (Smith, last year’s winner) and Teatro (Greeff) are also not out of it.

The race is wide open if you look past Cruise Control. He is a quality sprinter and the horse to beat. He looks like a banker.

The Speedsters Stakes is race seven on the card at 15:05.

It is an earlier than usual start at Fairview on Friday with nine races carded.

The top stables of Smith and champion trainer Alan Greeff are in good form and should have the biggest say again.

A Cape Town visitor who does look hard to beat though is Innamorare (Snaith) in a Middle Stakes over 1400m – race 8.

The first race is at 11:30 and Smith could be off to a winning start with the filly Sweet Cake.

Mighty Goddess Can Fly In

Mighty Goddess has been tipped to win the last race (JC Photos)

The Vaal Classic track eight race meeting today is headed by a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1450m and a MR 97 Handicap over 1600m.

In the Pinnacle Stakes event the Weiho Marwing-trained Rabada filly Soldier’s Eye will be tried in blinkers for the second time. She has won over 1600m before, so a race over 1450m is a good time to re-introduce them. She has the widest draw but it is a small six horse field. Soldier’s Eye was a touch unlucky last time over this trip at Turffontein Inside as she was dropped out to last from a wide draw and was staying on strongly and could have got closer has she not been cramped for room. However, it will be interesting to see what her tactics are with the blinkers on from another wide draw. Miss Hannigan has been a revelation since being sent over further than sprints and has won three of her last four starts, including an easy win over 1600m last time when being handy throughout. She beat Soldier’s Eye by three lengths in that race and is now only 2kg worse off, so she holds Soldier’s Eye on that run and she is drawn in pole with Khumalo staying aboard. Gimme A Shot has class and is ideally distance suited and should be in the shake up, despite having to give the rest of the field 4kg and more. Wings Within Me comes off a below par run over 1200m and being by Global View is interesting trying a trip beyond sprints for the first time.Betula followed a layoff with a much improved run and if she can return to her best form will be a threat. Callmewhenuneedme won her penultimate start over 1200m in fine style but she looks held by Miss Hanigan on their last clash over 1500m.

In the MR 97 handicap over 1600m Moola Man is on the up but does have to overcome a seven point raise for his easy last win and it also seems that some of the Johan Janse van Vuuren runners have to date seemed to need their first runs this season, so he can’t be backed confidently. Master Christmas won well last time over this trip and only has to handle a three point raise and is drawn in pole position. Kings Ransom is in good form and should be right there too. For wider, House Of Romanov has his third run after a layoff and could bounce back. Eiffel Tower is off form but if producing his best he is well handicapped.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Dontshootthebarman ran a good race last time and looks to be off a competitive mark, as he is one point higher than his last win, and Strydom is up. The Navy Lark will appreciate the step back to 1000m having won well over 1100m last time as she is very quick. Sakulo Is’Cathulo did alright with first time blinkers on last time and has a chance. Nkandla Gold is quick and has a chance. What A Tiger and Var Park are hard to ignore and going with the field might be the best option.

In the fifth race over 2000m Claw did not have much luck last time and gives the impression he could beat a field like this from pole position. Diesel’s Shadow has to overcome a wide draw and a three point raise for his win last time, but he should enjoy this trip and his form has been franked. Battleofbarberton makes most appeal of the rest as he should enjoy the trip and goes well for Strydom.

In the sixth over 1600m Royal Edition is in good form and gets a good draw over a suitable trip and he is off a competitive mark. Gimmeachoice’s last two starts have been good seconds and both have been franked so he makes some appeal but he does have a tricky draw. Archimedes has been in fine form and can also be included despite having to overcome a three point raise for his last win.

In the last race over 1600m Mighty Goddess has a fine chance as she went close over 1800m last time without it panning out too well and she now has Gavin Lerena up from a fair draw. Across The Pond is a progressive sort and is well drawn over a suitable trip. Princess Iliara is proven competitive off this mark and has Khumalo up over a suitable trip albeit from a tricky draw. Doitwithdiamonds should be in top shape and from pole position is not out of it. Twostepqueen had a nice win first time out as a three-year-old but has to overcome a four point raise and a wide draw, which are not insurmountable hurdles as she could be the biggest improver.

In the first leg of the Bipot Summer Shade ran well with first time blinkers and can continue on an upward curve and Tiger Storm and Remains Of The Day can also be included.

In the first leg of the PA Bellissivar is the form choice, while Endizayo is an interesting first-timer being by Vercingetorix and a full sister to Ubukhwebezana, who won her last two over 1200m in KZN.

Could Global View Get Increased Support?

THe Vaughan Marshall-trained Global View gelding Aspect makes it five wins on the trot at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Tuesday (Picture: Wayne Marks)

One quote that still rings in the ears from last season is Mike de Kock saying Dave The King was a horse who could win anywhere in the world. The powerful galloper with the massive stride went on to be named Equus Horse Of The Year.

He is by the Eastern Cape-based Ascot Stud sire Global View, who is not fashionable, but who now has another horse in Cape Town who is making waves.

That horse, Aspect, is also out of a Jet Master mare, just as Dave The King is.

Jet Master, as well as being a seven times champion sire, was also a many-times champion broodmare sire.

So there must still be plenty of good Jet Master mares around.

Could this lead to Global View being sent some higher profile Jet Master mares?

Cape Breeders wrote this week about the success of Aspect (read below):

Ascot Stud’s inform sire Global View, whose progeny include reigning South African Horse Of The Year Dave The King, looks to have come up with yet another smart performer in the form of Aspect.

The latter made it five wins in a row when winning impressively at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Vaughan Marshall, Aspect, who benefitted from a wind-op earlier in his career, was making his first start since April when he lined up in Saturday’s Soetendal Estate Class 3 (1400m).

Given a perfect ride from Mpumelelo Mjoka, the five-year-old, diagnosed as a wobbler earlier on, stormed home to win going away by a length.

Bred by Ridgemont Highlands, Aspect, whose five wins have all come over 1400m, is out of the Jet Master mare Sky Castle and is thus bred on the same cross as Dave The King.

His sire Global View, whose own sire Galileo recently came up with a 100th G1 winner, had a wonderful season in 2023-2024, with his son Dave The King landing both the G1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and G1 The HKJC Champions Cup.

Also runner-up in the 2024 G1 Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppeheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, Dave The King was not only crowned Horse Of The Year for the past season but also named Equus Champion Older Male for 2023-2024.

His sire Global View, South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire Of 2019-2020, was also responsible for Rule Book (Listed 4Racing Caradoc Gold Cup) and Fairy Knight (Listed East Cape Guineas/Listed Ibhayi Stakes) last season.

Beloved Junction Races Set For Another Packed Cup Meet

The Junction Race Club is preparing for up to 1200 racegoers to attend one of Western Australia’s oldest bush race meetings this weekend.

Saturday’s $30,000 Junction Cup (1900m) highlights the iconic race meeting and gymkhana which connects the Gascoyne Junction community for a weekend of horse racing and entertainment.

Junction Race Club Secretary Nadine Collins said the sold-out community event would attract people from across the State to the small Gascoyne town of Gascoyne Junction, about 170km east of Carnarvon.

“The races are one of the rare social occasions that bring our remote region together, where people travel from far and wide to reconnect and enjoy the camaraderie of friends,” she said.

“The Junction Race Club is a special club and from the committee members to volunteers to the racegoers, there never seems to be a lack of people who want to help and be involved.”

Junction Race Club, an entirely volunteer-based club, has been hosting the annual race meeting dating back to 1907.

The race meeting is a unique country experience, with the racetrack located on pastoral lease Jimba Jimba Station.

Ainsley Hardie, from the Shire of Upper Gascoyne, praised the positive ripple effect that racing, particularly the Junction Cup, had on the region.

“The impact of the Junction Cup is felt through the whole region, with visitors coming to make the most of our town while they’re here enjoying the races,” she said.

“The Junction Cup is a highlight of our year – it’s known far and wide and tickets always sell out.

“The races are a really fantastic opportunity for the community to come together and for visitors to get to experience Junction.”

The Gascoyne contributes $13.9 million of the total $1.3 billion that the racing industry generates for the WA economy annually.

Josh Miller

Yeni Treble, Veale, Godden, Miller, Bosch Doubles,

Muzi Yeni (right) and Cole Dicken react to a deadheat being announced between Knight Warrior (Dennis Bosch-Yeni) and A Few Dollars More (Glen Kotzen-Dicken). It secured Yeni a treble for the day (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Muzi Yeni rode a treble on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly on Wednesday and there were doubles for all of Sean Veale, Tristan Godden, Mike Miller and Dennis Bosch.

Yeni leads the national log for the season with 30 wins achieved at a strike rate of 16.76%.

Veale is in second place with 25 wins at 20%.

Godden is now on eight wins at 12.12%.

Miller is on five wins at 11.90%.

Bosch is on four wins at 17.39%.

Today's Question

Picture: Beduino headshot (Image: speedhorse.com)

What was the claim to fame of the thoroughbred Beduino?

Midweek FIELDS

Hollywoodbets Durbanville, Tuesday

Vaal, Tuesday

Today’s Question Answer

Beduino, The Mystery Horse From Mexico

Posted by Speedhorse.com on 04/12/2021

He was big – muscular for a Thoroughbred – but well-balanced fore and aft.

He stood with a commanding presence, a calm, almost arrogant air.

His name was Beduino and probably because he was a mystery horse from Mexico, rumors began to fly around the Los Alamitos Race Track stable area that this was an unbeatable horse.

Or, rumors had it, that Beduino was at least a horse who had yet to be beaten either on the race track or in match races in the bush.

They said he had won over a million dollars for his owner, Justo Fernandez, who had bet as much as $100,000 on him.

They said Beduino was a Thoroughbred who had beaten top Quarter Horses in match races at 440 yards – a distance no Thoroughbred should beat any racing Quarter Horse.

On and on went the rumors. Justo Fernandez had brought the horse north from Mexico City for a match race with Charger Bar, that great filly who at the time was the best Quarter Horse running and destined to be ranked among the all-time greats.

At the time, Charger Bar had won 14 straight races.

That race never came off. The Vessels Stallion Farm bought half interest in Beduino for $250,000. A picture of Beduino was hung in the reception room of the general offices of Los Alamitos Race Track.

It hung on the wall behind the switchboard and even in that position, dominated the room.

Talk and rumors of Beduino gradually faded.

Then a year ago, his first crop hit the race track. Among that crop was What A Woman, whose dam was Whataway To Go by Go Man Go.

In her maiden race, What A Woman went to her knees as she broke from the gate, but got up to win against some blue bloods – Proud Heritage, daughter of Ettabo and Charger Bar, and Cherished Lady, a daughter of Easy Jet.

She used to run like a goose, belly low to the ground, but she’s gotten out of that habit and her lifetime record is now 23 stars, five wins, eight seconds, and three thirds. She has earned $88,072 and has been third in the La Primera Del Ano Derby and the Fresno Futurity, and second in the Vandy’s Flash, Juvenile Invitation, and Kindergarten Consolation.

Beduino’s second crop came to the track this year, led by Fishers Favorite, whose dam was Ought To Go. Another Go Man Go daughter as was the dam of What A Woman.

Thus far, Fishers Favorite has won three of her seven starts, been second twice and third once. She has earned $111,937. She won the Kindergarten Consolation and was the fastest qualifier for the $750,000 Skoal Dash For Cash Futurity.

In the finals of that rich event, she went off the even money favorite but placed second to Easy Angel. She was not shipped to Ruidoso for the All American Futurity.

Interest in Beduino obviously was rekindled. It was time to separate fact from fiction, to turn rumors into truth and to discover how much about this stallion was merely fantasy. Was he truly a legend?

Frank Vessels III, better known as Scoop around the racetrack and grandson of the founder of Los Alamitos Race Track, had probed and separated fact from fantasy.

He said, “I’ve become a close friend with Justo Fernandez and learned a lot about Beduino. Justo is a businessman in Mexico City. He breeds and races horses and owns the Hipodromo de las Americas – a beautiful race track in Mexico City, as well as the new border city track at Nuevo Laredo.

“Justo is a gentleman. He will bet almost anything on one of his horses in a match race. He’s been on the Mexican national trap shooting team, has been on the equestrian team, and goes around with a Colt .45 automatic piston stuck in his belt.”

Young Vessels went on, “Most of the rumors we’ve been hearing about Beduino are true. His name means Bedouin. The name possibly comes from his gray coloring which is similar to the Arabian breed of horses.”

Beduino’s blood lines go back to Man O’War and even further back to Domino, a speed horse racing at the turn of the century.

A 1974 letter to the Vessels from Leon Rasmussen, breeding expert of the Daily Racing Form, said Rasmussen believed Beduino’s great early speed came from the Domino line, which enters Beduino’s heritage six or seven times.

Beduino’s great grandfather is Nasrullah and his grandfather is Rejected, who won both the Santa Anita Handicap and the Hollywood Gold Cup. Rasmussen wrote further that the gray coloring comes from another grandfather, Grey Sovereign, and father Romany Royal.

Beduino LeadBeduino is now nine years old and Fernandez won him as a yearling in a match race. Fernandez had wanted to race against a particular horse. The owner didn’t want to bet money, so Fernandez offered to bet his horse against a gray yearling owned by the other man. The bet was accepted, Fernandez won the bet, and Beduino was his.

Vessels continued the story.

Beduino ran 13 short Thoroughbred races and then Fernandez started matching him against Quarter Horses in shorter distances run in a straightaway.

Beduino whipped all comers in Mexico, and then a match race was arranged with the Quarter Horse Champion Come Six in Mexico.

Fernandez got the long end of 2-1 odds.

According to Come Six jockey Luke Myles, “We had a half-length lead or more coming out of the gate and led all the way until the last two jumps. Then this gray blur shot past me.”

So, as the rumor said, he had beaten at least one top Quarter Horse in a match race.

Vessels said, “I think he lost only one match race against a Quarter Horse and that may have been to set up a future bet.”

The Vessels family entered the Beduino story during a convention of the American Quarter Horse Association in Mexico City

in 1974.

Scoop Vessels recalled, “My dad (the late Frank Vessels Jr.) told me that this Mexican man kept bugging him to come see his horse. You know, we’ve always had all kinds of horses and the last thing my dad wanted to see was another horse.

“But, the man kept bugging him and finally my dad gave in.”

Scoop continued, “When he came back to Los Alamitos from Mexico City, my dad said to me – and he was very excited – ‘Scoop, I just saw the best looking horse I’ve ever laid eyes on.’

“And,” said Scoop, “you know he’s seen a lot of great looking horses.”

Eventually, by long distance, a match race was arranged between Beduino and Charger Bar, then the reigning Quarter Horse Champion. Fernandez shipped Beduino north to Los Alamitos and the Vessels Ranch, hard by the race track.

The story is that the bet began at $50,000 and then went to $100,000. Then, Vessels said, Fernandez wanted to bet ‘My horse for yours’ with Charger Bar owner Ed Allred. But the race never came off.

It is known that in an exhibition at Los Alamitos, Beduino barely beat a fair Quarter Horse named Chic Pat Go, a runner not as good as Charger Bar.

Had the race come off horse for horse, it probably would have been a $500,000 bet for a total of $1 million worth of horse flesh.

For, when the Vessels Stallion Farm bought half interest in Beduino for $250,000, that established his market value at $500,000.

And Charger Bar had races worth $200,000 to run at before she went to breeding. She’d already won $450,000. Further, a straight-legged yearling out of Charger Bar would probably bring $100,000 at auction. And, she could drop one foal a year.

It is interesting that Beduino’s daughter, What A Woman, beat Charger Bar’s first foal, Proud Heritage by Ettabo, in their maiden race.

For looks, Beduino is a handsome, studly brute with a royal air about him. He stands 16 hands 1 inch, and is so strongly built fore and aft that though a Thoroughbred, he resembles a tall Quarter Horse, or “a gray Secretariat,” said Scoop.

Gene Chambless, that noted Oklahoma horseman and Western gentleman who first came to California as a trainer of Rebel Cause for Dale Robertson, is now farm manager of the Vessels Stallion Farm.

He said Beduino has sired other winners besides What A Woman and Fishers Favorite. Bedawee, out of Ought To Go, has won three races, and Bedawin, out of Dupe’s Doing, has won five.

Chambless said, “Beduino is beginning to make his mark as a stallion. So far, he seems to cross well with Go Man Go mares.

“He was booked to 57 mares in the 1979 season and we have a full book for him in 1980. The fee is $2,500 and we’ll keep it there, at least for a while. We want his get to be racing so he can prove himself.”

Chambless continued, “His foals tend to be gray or roan. What A Woman is a gray and Fishers Favorite is a roan.”

Of course, their grandfather, Go Man Go, was a roan, reddish coloring with gray flecks.

The picture of Beduino no longer dominates the reception room at Los Alamitos Race Track.

Millie Vessels, president of Los Alamitos Race Course and also owner of the adjacent Los Alamitos Country Club, said, “Before the last meeting, we redecorated. I had a picture which used to hang in the board room moved to the reception room and Beduino’s picture now hangs behind the bar at the country club.”

The coffee shop and golf course is a favorite hangout for the golfers among the trainers, jockeys and agents after their morning chores are finished.

Undoubtedly they add to the legend of Beduino when a golfer comes in, is drawn to the picture behind the bar and asks, “What a magnificent animal, who is it?”

Beduino went on to become the sire of six Champions in Brigand Silk, Chingaderos, Femmes Frolic, Indigo Illusion, Strawberry Silk, and Tolltac. Beduino is also the broodmare sire of eight Champions in Baychaino, Dash Thru Traffic, First Sovereign, IBA Dasher, Meter Me Gone, Royal Quick Dash, Stoli, and Your First Moon.