Group One Caps Brilliant Season for On the Bubbles

Karaka Million hero On the Bubbles (Brazen Beau) signed off a superb two-year-old season with another memorable triumph in the $225,000 Group One Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on Saturday.

Bought for $90,000 by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis from Leanach Lodge’s draft at Karaka 2019, On the Bubbles has had six starts for four wins, including a blockbuster performance in the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie in January. Both of his two defeats were second placings in Group races, and he has earned $743,550 for the Te Akau Splash of Dom Racing Partnership – more than eight times his purchase price.

“He loves being a racehorse, and there’s no other way to put it,” trainer Jamie Richards said on Saturday.

“I’m really proud of him. He’s been to most of the big dances this year and just keeps improving. I knew off the back of his work on Tuesday morning that we were in for a show and he’s duly delivered in really good fashion.”

Ridden by his regular partner Johnathan Parkes, On the Bubbles charged forward from his wide gate and dominated the race from the front.

He changed gears at the top of the straight and exploded clear, romping home by three lengths in a powerhouse performance.

On the Bubbles will now be given a winter break before returning for a spring campaign aimed at the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November. But in the meantime, his two-year-old heroics have given his connections plenty to celebrate.

“He’s a hell of a good horse and has great owners,” said Ellis, whose wife Karyn Fenton-Ellis manages the Te Akau Splash of Dom Racing Partnership. 

“Especially thrilling is that a lot of them are young people. Our daughter Julia-Rose, the Te Akau marketing manager, and her husband Hamish Hayes are shareholders, and they’ve got their friends in the horse too. It’s an incredibly happy ownership group, and we’re thrilled for all these new investors that we’ve been able to win the Karaka Million and now a Group One.

“A lot of them came up to me today at the races and said just how excited they are to have won their first Group One race. It’s an incredibly difficult thing to achieve, and so many people go a lifetime in horse ownership without getting a horse good enough to compete in a Group One race, let alone win.

“He’s been beautifully trained and ridden, and to think what he’s achieved after only getting his career underway four and a half months ago.

“It shows everyone in the Te Akau team is doing their best and there have been some amazing team members that have looked after him along the way.

“It’s a big thrill for Karyn and me to be back here at Awapuni, and to win this race for the fourth time in a row.”

On the Bubbles became the fourth consecutive Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes winner bought at Karaka and trained by Richards, following on from Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), Avantage (Fastnet Rock) and Yourdeel (NZ) (Dundeel).

Vendor	Leanach Lodge Ltd
Purchaser	Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)
Breeding	Brazen Beau – More Bubbles
Sale	Lot 116, Karaka 2020 Book 1, $90,000
Bred by	Burnewang North Pastoral