3 minute read
Luke Fernie’s talented Ripcord is the second three-year-old to be confirmed for The Quokka.
Ripcord produced one of the wins of the Perth Summer carnival when he turned heads with a blistering finish to take out the Listed Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) and will renew his rivalry with Oscar's Fortune in The Quokka on April 20th.
Selected by well-known WA racing owner Bob Peters, under the Peters Investments banner, Ripcord is the third horse to be officially selected for the second edition of The Quokka.
Not many horses are rated to 96 by Racing and Sports on debut but Ripcord announced himself as one of the best two-year-olds in the state when he took out the Listed Amelia Park Perth Stakes (1100m) on debut.
He would then go on to run third in the Group 2 Karakatta Plate (1200m) to Super Smink before returning at three and going right on with the job.
The son of Written By has thrived with racing, running to 104 in his Placid Ark win over Oscar's Fortune, set up by a brutal tempo in front but recording some huge late splits from near last to get up on the line.
He proved he was right up to tackling the older horses when he again ran on strongly from back in the field in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) to Overpass, who of course won the inaugural The Quokka last year and is likely to be back seeking a third major win in Perth.
The market certainly loved his Placid Ark win that day, sending him around the $6.50 second elect in the Winterbottom which should see the trifecta (including second placed Oscar's Fortune) all clash again.
He then went on to be denied by the fairy tale finish of Munhamek and Damien Oliver in The Gold Rush but matched his 112 rating that he ran in the Winterbottom. For context, that would have put him around 7th in The Quokka, ahead of the likes of Uncommon James and Shades Of Rose.
The big thing for Ripcord is how much improvement he can continue to make, and a big part of that will be his racing pattern. If Luke Fernie can get him to jump out of the barriers a bit cleaner and settle closer to the speed, his booming turn of foot is going to see him a danger in any scenario of race he may encounter.
Ripcord will tackle The Quokka second-up from a spell having returned in what looks one of, if not the key lead-up race: the Group 3 Roma Cup (1100m). Again, his issue there was gate speed, settling last in the field of eight and working home well, but no match for Oscar's Fortune and Amelia's Jewel. He was beaten 3.3 lengths in third and ran to 105 on the R&S scale, which is seven pounds off his peak.
Key to note however is that Ripcord went into the Roma Cup without a trial, so it's fair to assume he can take more improvement than his rivals in that race. If that's the case, and he's able to run up to at least his peak, he's a chance for the minor money.
We anticipate a similar rating to last year's winner Overpass, who ran to 119, will be needed this year, so even Ripcord's peak of 112 is a couple of lengths shy. In his favour is the rise to 1200m and what looks a strong tempo. He's drawn ideally in barrier five with Clint Johnston-Porter to ride and if he can find the back of a horse like King Of Sparta in the run, he can get into the finish at the $19 TABtouch* are currently offering.
*Odds correct on 17/4/24.
About the Slot Holder- Peters Investments
One of the most well known and savvy breeders and owners in the country, let alone Western Australia, Bob Peters heads up Peters Investments who have snapped up Ripcord nice and early to run in their slot.
Famous of course for their 'cerise and white' racing silks, the Peters colours have been worn by some fantastic WA horses that have had success Australia wide. Fantastic mare Delicacy, won the WA Oaks, WA Derby, Australasian Oaks and SA Derby in her three-year-old season before returning to win the Perth Cup with 59kg really put the colours on the map.
Other fantastic horses have raced around Australia in the cerise and white but perhaps none better than Arcadia Queen, who won the Kingston Town Classic as a three-year-old by 4.5 lengths, eventually going on to win the Caulfield Stakes and Mackinnion Stakes at Group 1 level in Melbourne.
While Ripcord won't be running in the Peters colours, such a well-respected selector of horses taking Ripcord some three months out from The Quokka speaks volumes to his chances.
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