Written By 3YO Ripcord Sensational in Placid Ark
On a mammoth day of racing, there were few more impressive performances than talented Written by 3YO Ripcord in the $500,000 Listed WATC Tabtouch – Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.
Last on the turning and coming widest of all under Clinton Johnston-Porter, he displayed a blistering turn of foot to claim the rich prize by a short-head from Oscar’s Fortune.
Still not sure how Ripcord got there 🤯 pic.twitter.com/f0ThKPoSnF
— TAB (@tabcomau) November 19, 2023
In winning his first race since capturing the Listed Perth Stakes (1100m) at Ascot in April, Ripcord advances his record to two wins, two second, and a third from six starts with earnings of $435,930.
Winning trainer Luke Fernie said the Group I WATC Winterbottom Stakes is possible next start.
“He’s been going super all prep and has been a bit unlucky,” Fernie said.
“I wouldn’t have changed him for any horse in the race. He has a big motor, and he showed that today.
“It hasn’t been the smoothest week with him, a little up and down, but we pulled it off with good staff and support around me.
“He scares me a bit when he comes to the races because he is a bit of a lunatic, but at home, he is so placid and just a beautiful horse with a great nature.
“Just by looking at him, you know he is something special.”
Bred by Phoenix Broodmare Farm NSW, Ripcord was a $40,000 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale purchase for his trainer from the Barador Stud & Phoenix Broodmare Farm draft.
He is the first stakes-winner among three winners from Single in London, a four time winning three-quarter sister-in-blood by Not a Single Doubt to Group I placed Group III winner Faraway Town from the family of Group I winner Only a Lady.
Ripcord is one of two stakes-winners for Written By, who has one of this season’s most promising two-year-olds in Straight Charge. A $270,000 Magic Millions purchase for Yulong, Straight Charge was beaten narrowly by his Waterhouse/Bott-trained stablemate Espionage (Zoustar) in the Group III Breeders Plate at Randwick.
