Joey Ramsden can continue his extraordinary domination of the Somerset 1200 by taking tomorrow’s Kenilworth Listed race with the cheaply bought Morning Catch. Stable companion Speedpoint should also make the frame.

The pair were bought in successive lots at the Emperors Palace Select just over 12 months ago and R200 000 Morning Catch, despite starting at 16-1, led a furlong out on debut and increased his advantage to the line. He gave the impression that he should have no difficulty confirming the form with second-placed Captain Ram despite being 2kg worse.

Joey Ramsden (Nkosi Hlophe)

Speedpoint was only beaten half a length by Dutch Philip in a strong juvenile plate over a furlong less than this three weeks ago and he is now 2kg better. The way they both quickened suggests that Speedpoint may well reverse the placings at these weights.

However both Candice Bass-Robinson and Aldo Domeyer were adamant that their horse will be far more effective over this trip and the colt is expected to start favourite which is a positive pointer  – favourites have won three of the last six runnings.

However Speedpoint’s pedigree is also a long way from being pure speed. He might be by Var but his Grade 3-winning Casey Tibbs dam is a full sister to July winner Big City Life.

There is a line of form which suggests that Morning Catch could be slightly better than Speedpoint. Certainly he has more scope for improvement.

Zodiac Jack looked good when winning three races back and, while there were valid excuses for his odds-on defeat next time, he was well beaten in the Dutch Philip race.

However Kasimir finished in front of Dutch Philip when second in the Met day Listed race, an extraordinary performance for a newcomer. Although he then met with a shock 2-10 defeat he was shin-sore afterwards. He receives all the allowances and if he can reproduce his debut form the rest might as well stay at home.

Pen-Chan’s maiden win has not really been franked and, although it is obviously significant that Victorious Captain now runs without blinkers, it is hard to see him justifying his name in this company.

For what it’s worth the sahorseracing computer has Dutch Philip beating Morning Catch by just under half a length with Kasimir third. But was it told that Ramsden had won the last four runnings?

It predicts victory for the erroneously-named Too Phat To Fly in the Perfect Promise and that could be spot-on despite the strong claims of Rose In Bloom who ran so well in the Dutch Philip race.

By Michael Clower