The Joey Ramsden trained Red Ray turned a blinkers strike into a commanding success when he strolled home to win Saturday’s G1 Mercury Sprint at Greyville.

It was a well deserved first Grade One success for Red Ray, who more than likely stamped his ticket to stud with a two length score in Saturday’s 1200m feature. Red Ray’s victory also continued the golden run of form that owners Ingrid and Markus Jooste have enjoyed of late –with the Joostes’ The Conglomerate (like Red Ray hailing from the Joey Ramsden yard) landing the recent G1 Vodacom Durban July and Rabada the G1 Daily News 2000. Few, if any, horses were more deserving of a first Grade One win -with Red Ray having previously finished second in three other major Grade One features.

Unplaced in his first two runs after a lengthy layoff (which saw the horse make a single unsuccessful start in Dubai), Red Ray was allowed to start a 7-1 chance for the Mercury Sprint, where Talktothestars and Trip To Heaven both started at shorter odds. However, it was a different matter in the sprint, with Red Ray coasting home (under regular rider Anton Marcus) to post a deceptively easy two length win from the fast finishing pair of Night Trip and Real Princess (the latter pair being two of leading sire Trippi’s six runners in the contest).

Former G1 Cape Flying Championship hero Gulf Storm ran a good race back in fourth, while Talktothestars (who had to jump from a shocking draw of 13) put up a smart effort in storming home late for fifth place. The winner stopped the clock in a time of 68.96 Bred by Lammerskraal Stud, Red Ray is a son of two of that farm’s greatest producers (both sadly now deceased) –Western Winter and Nacarat, which makes Saturday’s Grade One winner an own brother to G1 winner Nania and top class sprinter Brutal Force, as well as this season's highly regarded 2yo Bishop's Bounty.