Written By's Ripcord Stuns in the Placid Ark

Mark Smith - Sunday November 19

On a mammoth day of racing, there were few more impressive performances than  Ripcord in the $500,000 Listed Tabtouch - Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.

Ripcord- what a win! (image The Races WA/Western Racepix)

Last on the turning and coming widest of all under Clinton Johnston-Porter, the son of Written By displayed a blistering turn of foot to claim the rich prize by a short-head from the Rich Enuff gelding Oscar's Fortune with three-quarters of a length back to the Exceed and Excel filly Augment in third.

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 Winterbottom stakes is possible next start.

&

Advertisement
;quo

t;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.

Sending connections home happy (image The Races WA/Western Racepix)

"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.

"We will possibly go to the Winterbottom next – we will see how he pulls up.

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 best of three winners from four to race for 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.

Phoenix Broodmare Farm bought Single In London for just $5,000  at the 2015 National Broodmare Sale and sold her through the same sale this year, bringing $100,000 to the bid of Bring It Back Bloodstock when consigned by Kenmore Lodge.

 Graeme Gathercole purchased Single In London's Lucky Vega filly for $65,000 from the Phoenix Broodmare Farm draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.

Single In London was not served in 2022.

Ripcord and the Group III BJ McLachlan Stakes winner The Novelist are stakes-winners from the first crop of Widden Stud’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Written By, who has one of this season’s most promising two-year-olds, 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.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - TABtouch - Placid Ark Stakes LR 1200m

Ascot Track: Good(4) Time: 1:10.63
1
Ripcord
- 3g Written By (AUS) x Single In London (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: C Johnston-Porter 56.5
Written By
2
0.1
Oscar's Fortune
- 3g Rich Enuff (AUS) x Oscar Award (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: D M Luciani Rdr: W Pike 56.5
Rich Enuff
3
0.9
Augment
- 3f Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Dolly's Wig (AUS) (Snippetson (AUS))
Tnr: Simon Miller Rdr: P Carbery 54.5
4
2.4
Petula
- 3f Nicconi (AUS) x Run Sally Run (AUS) (Ready's Image (USA))
Tnr: Simon Miller Rdr: B Parnham 54.5
5
2.5
Hanchi
- 3g Squamosa (AUS) x Imperial Ida (AUS) (Lord Jim (ARG))
Tnr: S & J Casey Rdr: Chris Parnham 56.5
6
5.7
Snow Prince
- 3g Safeguard (AUS) x Snow Pixie (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: S & J Casey Rdr: T Turner 56.5
7
5.7
Playing Games
- 3f Playing God (AUS) x Mama Bear (AUS) (Big Brown (USA))
Tnr: Meryl Hayley Rdr: Laqdar Ramoly 54.5
8
5.8
Leading Taddy
- 3g Ducimus (AUS) x Swimmer (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: A W Maley Rdr: S Mc Gruddy 56.5
9
6.1
Lord Lala
- 3g Deep Field (AUS) x Bubbly Duchess (AUS) (Duke Of Marmalade (IRE))
Tnr: S V Vahala Rdr: S Parnham 56.5
10
8.3
Krysanova
- 3f Bondi (AUS) x All Friared Up (AUS) (Blackfriars (AUS))
Tnr: T M Andrews Rdr: P Knuckey 54.5
11
9.4
Weapons Hot
- 3g Russian Revolution (AUS) x Crown Agnes (AUS) (Agnes World (USA))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: P Harvey 56.5
12
10.9
Wicked Venom
- 3g Sessions (AUS) x Moonshyne (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Rhys Radford Rdr: Jordan Turner 56.5
13
13.3
Alotofbanter
- 3g A Lot (USA) x Bantry Bay (AUS) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: Simon Miller Rdr: Holly Watson 56.5
14
16.5
Shaddow Fear
- 3f Sioux Nation (USA) x Noetic (AUS) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: Michael Poy 54.5
More Reading...
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Second Stakes-Winner for Written By
Widden Stud’s promising young sire Written By posted his second stakes-winner in Perth on Saturday when speedy colt Ripcord made a winning debut in the Listed WATC Perth Stakes (1100m).
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.