Festive Cheers - On The Bubbles

A fine run with two-year-olds continued for leading trainer Jamie Richards, when On the Bubbles (2 g Brazen Beau - More Bubbles, by Sebring) won on debut in the $22,500 NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO 1100 metres on Saturday at Awapuni. 

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM in January at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, for $90,000 from the draft of Leanach Lodge, owned by Te Akau Splash Of Dom Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he joined stable-mates Avonallo (Belardo), Palamos (Extreme Choice), Sophisticardo (Burgundy), Millefiori (Iffraaj) and Sneaky Shark (Capitalist) in the Order of Entry for the Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) on 23 January at Ellerslie, and seeking to provide Te Akau Racing with its fifth consecutive win. 

They are chasing illustrious company, with Champion Two-Year-Old and dual Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands), Champion Two-Year-Old and quadruple Group 1 winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock), history maker - winning both Karaka Million 2YO & 3YO - and dual Group 1 winner in Australia Probabeel (Savabeel), and Champion Two-Year-Old Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel), having all won the race previously for Te Akau. 

“That's our eighth individual two-year-old winner this season and seven of those have been on debut, which is just incredible,” Ellis said.

“We don't put pressure on our two-year-olds and it just highlights what a great judge Jamie (Richards) is of knowing when they're ready to race. We like them to tell us when they're feeling right to head to the races and by doing that they stay happy.”

Positively ridden from a wide barrier (10) by Johnathan Parkes to lead, On the Bubbles found a good kick to pinch an advantage early in the home straight and did enough to keep the closers at bay. 

“He worked across to find the front quite easily and it was a good tough effort,” Richards said. “Parksy asked him to quicken from the 600m and he did a really good job.

“He was running on empty at the line, but a big effort after being used at both ends of the race.

“He's certainly open to more improvement and qualified for the KM, so I'm really pleased with how he's going.

“He's a horse that has always shown some ability. We had to sort out his attitude a little bit, hence why he was gelded, but really pleased with where he's at.”

On footing rated Dead4, On the Bubbles ran the 1100 metres in 1:05.8, and paid $5.10 & $2.00 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a big thrill because we've got a lot of first time owners in the horse,” Ellis said. “Some are very good friends of mine, as well as my wife Karyn, daughter Julia-Rose and her husband Hamish Hayes, so I'm thrilled for the team that invested in him.

“And, of course, that was our 70^thwin for the season and that's amazing when think we're under five months into it. 

“Johnathan Parkes has a really good record on our horses. He rode Gingernuts to win the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m), before he won the Derby, finished runner-up on Prise De Fer, to Avantage, in the Group 1 last season at Otaki, won recently on Need I Say More, and we often use him on horses we send to the Central Districts.

“We told him to be positive (from the draw) and he spent a bit of petrol getting over, so it's little wonder he got a bit tired. I think he'll be a horse with more improvement in him.

“He went down last night and stayed at Roydon Bergerson's and cleaned up all his feed and ate his breakfast, so that's the sign of a horse that is really thriving, happy and enjoying his work. And he can aim towards the Karaka Million. 

“For all our team, it's a great result on the last Saturday of racing before Christmas. They've done an amazing job educating these babies. 

“With two-year-old racing, it's often the best educated and best trained horses that normally win. And, as is my policy with two-year-olds, we don't put any undue pressure on them, let them do it naturally, and we back off them if they're feeling it. 

“And by treating them that way, it's one of the main reasons so many of our two-year-olds train on at three, four, and as older horses.”

On the Bubbles was strapped by Te Akau racing manager Libby Richards.

Footnote: It also was an historical day of racing, as Chris Johnson (56) broke the all-time record (2452) for career wins by a New Zealand jockey - in the very next race.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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