Unbeaten. Joey Ramsden’s Red Ray looks something special in the making and is a confident selection to win the Listed Somerset 1200
The dogs had been barking about Joey Ramsden’s undefeated 2yo Red Ray since some time prior to his first appearance on a racecourse. The emphatic and impressive manner of his two course and distance wins make him a hot order to win Saturday’s R125 000 Listed Somerset 1200 at Kenilworth.
Cape champion trainer Joey Ramsden finds a flagbearer every season, and it is probably not premature to suggest that Red Ray could be his next big thing. The Lammerskraal Stud product cost a hefty R800 000 at sale, but on what we have seen in the flesh and on the track at his first two runs, the son of Western Winter is probably already worth a few times that figure.
The whole family can run, and Ramsden trained Red Ray’s Group performing full sister Nania a few years ago, with great success. The full brother Brutal Force was sold as Lot 1 on the recent Cape Thoroughbred Sales Book 1 for R1,5 million and will no doubt also be joining Ramsden’s professional operation at Milnerton. Red Ray is something exciting indeed.
Cruising
He started at 18 to 10 when cruising in to beat Sunday Sun on debut, and then came out three weeks ago to beat Muskets’ N Roses by 4,50 lengths. You are probably wondering who Muskets ‘N Roses is. Fair enough, but it may be worth glancing further down that race’s form to a fellow called Playingtheenemy, who was beaten 6,25 lengths. That one came out to slam his field on April Fool’s day, but it almost appears pointless trying to justify Red Ray’s claims. He has been downright breathtaking to date, and could not do more than win.
In what became a highly publicised post race interview, we learnt from the Jooste racing manager Derek Brugmann after Red Ray’s second win that he could well be aimed at the Champions Season, although it appears that the Golden Horse Casino Sprint raceday at Scottsville will not be one of his targets. A long striding handsome colt, he has won his two starts without being remotely pressured and then by a collective seven lengths.
Angelic
Rated. Debut winner Juddering Angel faces his first test of strength when lining up in the Listed Somerset 1200
His stablemate Juddering Angel was allowed to start at any price when making a winning course and distance debut in February. He beat Sunday Sun and had Sahvara back in fourth, but is rumoured to be showing good signs at home.
Juddering Angel could make it a Ramsden exacta, if he has improved after his maiden win. The Dean Kannemeyer yard is in hot form and they send out Kremlin Captain for the fish baron, George Nichas.
Kremlin Captain was well beaten by Red Tractor on debut, but came out on April Fool’s day over Saturday’s course and distance and won with authority, when beating the speedy O‘Chee Pan by two lengths. They put the money down that afternoon, and he is obviously a promising sort who has plenty of scope to up his game to the next level.
Vaughan Marshall’s Kabool colt Silk Road won his first two starts on the trot, before failing at his first serious test wen going down 11,10 lengths to Only Emily in the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes on Met Day.
Blazing
Greg Ennion’s Spectrum gelding Sunday Sun bumped debut winner Juddering Angel first time out, and then came out next time to meet a fellow called Red Ray making his debut! On raw form, he is the horse to have gotten the closest to Red Ray, and it was not surprising to see him win his third start when he got up to beat Kotzen’s Antonius Du Bois narrowly over 1400m.
Antonius Du Bois franked that with a runaway win at his very next start. Brett Crawford’s Red Tractor was a long priced debut winner over the Kenilworth 1000m and had two of note behind him at that outing.
Kremlin Captain improved to win his very next start, as did Another Idea, who travelled to PE last Friday to only be beaten 0,25 lengths by Seattle Storm. He also significantly finished in front of the highly thought of Navistar.
Maiden
Corne Spies’ Sail From Seattle gelding Sahvara has his seventh run and is also still a maiden. He returns from action at Fairview last Friday where he stayed on strongly for third and 0,75 lengths behind Seattle Storm in the East Cape Nursery.
Red Ray looks very special, and even being conservative and taking one step at a time, we still give him a perfect 10. It almost feels like overkill that Anton Marcus will fly down to Cape Town to ride him. But our champion jockey will no doubt be getting to know him prior to his bigger fish operations to come. Red Ray could be chased home by Kremlin Captain and Juddering Angel. But they shouldn’t even come close.
