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.
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.
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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.
"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.
