Red Ray won possibly the most important race of his life when landing the Gr1 Mercury Sprint at Greyville yesterday. Racing in blinkers for the first time he motored to the line under Anton Marcus to beat home rank outsider Night Trip and the filly Real Princess. Favourite Talktothestars had a nightmare trip from his wide draw and did well to finish fourth.

Not only did Red Ray enhance his reputation but probably also saved a visit from the vet and instead book a place on the Klawervlei Stud stallion roster. It was also another Gr1 winner for Markus and Ingrid Jooste, their placed further cemented at the top of the leading owners list with the Mike Bass-trained Night Trip providing a one-two.

Joey Ramsden, fresh off the high of winning the Vodacom Durban July a fortnight ago, and Jooste racing manager Derek Brugman deemed Red Ray good enough to take his chances in Dubai under the care of Mike de Kock. But it proved an ill-fated journey as the son of Western Winter managed only a single start. He was however, thought good enough to warrant the expense of a return trip home. It proved an inspired decision.

“He came from Mike in absolutely tip-top condition and all I had to do was put the cherry on the top,” complimented Ramsden.

Red Ray made a promising return after his lengthy break with a fourth in the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint and then did not get the best of passages in the G2 Post Merchants. Red Ray found good market support in both races which should have tipped off punters that there was still a big race in the entire.

Fitting blinkers was probably the master stroke yesterday and although running around in the finish the result was never in doubt once Red Ray had collared pacemaker Captain Alfredo.

The pace was on from the start as apprentice Lyle Hewiston committed Captain Alfredo early. But Marcus has few rivals when it comes to the start and as if by magic he had Red Ray out of his 10 gate in a flash and up with the pace. Trip Tease made a tardy start and was swamped on the rail while Gavin Lerena opted to drop out from the jump and Talktothestars was last after the field had travelled a furlong. With a strong tailwind in the straight his goose was already cooked.

Red Ray tackled Captain Alfredo early in the straight but the pacemaker had done his dash leaving Marcus in front. Real Princess and Night Trip finished best of the pack but Red Ray had the race nailed a long way out.

Ramsden summed up, “I’m glad to have finally won it. I’ve run second too many times.”

In earlier action, top weight In Other Words started favourite for the Off To Stud Stakes (Listed) but it was stable companion Lady Of Kildare and Anthony Delpech, riding his 201^st winner of the season, who spoilt the party for punters who plunged on the more fancied runner. The win also gave Sean Tarry his 200^th winner of a season that he will never forget. He is R9 million ahead of nearest rival Justin Snaith in the now one-horse race for the National Trainer’s title and he can dust off his penguin suit for the Equus Awards on August 16.

Delpech, as is his want, had Sean Tarry’s mare perfectly placed to challenge coming off the false rail and she quickened through the traffic to win fluently from the third of Tarry’s runners, Enchanted Silk who edged out Silver Class in a photo.

In Other Words was in trouble soon after entering the straight and Piere Strydom eased her out of the race with something obviously amiss.

Weichong Marwing, still battling a dodgy back, was booked off the ride on Zante for the Queen Palm Stakes but Neil Bruss was more than happy to toss the bone to Marcus.

He proved an inspired replacement, riding his rivals to sleep and skipping home with six lengths to spare. Gathering Fame set funereal early fractions in the 2400m event but with half the race gone Marcus allowed Zante to pick up the gallop. Coming up the hill he had plenty of daylight on his field with Lerena on favourite and stable companion Deputy Ryder seemingly unperturbed in the back seat.

But all the jockey’s barring Marcus got it wrong as Zante kept rolling to win as she liked, Deputy Ryder putting in a belated finish for second but six lengths adrift at the line.

Andrew Harrison