G1 Season Reflections - On The Bubbles

What an Easter treat for owners of On the Bubbles (2 g Brazen Beau - More Bubbles, by Sebring) when winning the $225,000 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) on Easter Saturday at Awapuni.

He proved too good for stable-mate I Wish I Win (Savabeel) and registered the fourth consecutive Sires' win for Te Akau.
It was icing on the cake for Te Akau Splash of Dom Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), after the yearling purchased for $90,000 by David Ellis CNZM at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Leanach Lodge, had completed a hat-trick in the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m).

A race Te Akau has made their own - winning the previous four - On the Bubbles went into the Karaka Million having won two from two and but for drawing the outside barrier (14) would have been shorter than the $4.40 & $1.85 fixed odds.
Thing is, his two prior wins were from wide gates, so it appeared no serious deterrent.

He had worked at both ends of the race when winning on debut in the Pearl Series 2YO 1100 metres on 19 December at Awapuni, and scintillating off a wide run when winning the 2YO 1200 metres 10 January at Ellerslie.

David Ellis summed the precursor up best: “That's definitely as good a win as I've seen by any two-year-old this season. You just don't see horses sit three and four wide and win pulling away like that.

“We've got some really good owners in the horse and many of them were with us on course today. Our daughter Julia-Rose and her husband Hamish (Hayes) have got a share, a lot of great guys and girls that are in the horse, and they're going to have a great next couple of weeks waiting for the Karaka Million.”

Ridden, as he was all season, by Johnathan Parkes, On the Bubbles negated the draw to slot in fourth at the 800m. Parkes had him ready approaching the home turn and after reaching the lead a furlong out he drew clear to win by one and three-quarter lengths.

Not only did On the Bubbles win for Te Akau and their owners, but they finished first to fourth, all with horses trained from the Colt Barn at Matamata, as Sneaky Shark (Capitalist) finished second, Avonallo (Belardo) third, and Sophisticardo (Burgundy) fourth.

“He makes it easy on you, because when you ask him he's got a lot of speed,” Parkes said. “He went forward quite easily and from there onwards he got a really nice run. I brought him out before the turn so he could roll into it and he's proven to be too good.”

“It's fantastic,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “The team has done a great job and a big thank you to Dave (Ellis) and Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) for buying these lovely horses and this is what racing is all about.”

Freshened, On the Bubbles bowed gamely in second to stable-mate Sword of State (Snitzel) in both the Waikato Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) and Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m).

But back to Awapuni, where a tough course winner on debut, he rated a top three chance despite again drawing wide (13) in the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m).

On the Bubbles was in front from the outset and travelled like a winner throughout. The market dominance of the Te Akau pair acted out accordingly in the straight, as they second rated their opposition by four lengths, but On the Bubbles was still powerful at the line while getting away by three lengths.

On footing downgraded after three races to Slow9, On the Bubbles ran the 1400 metres in 1:25.9 and paid $2.60 & $1.30 on the NZ TAB tote. He took his record to four wins and two seconds, from six starts, and nearly $750,000 prize money.
In securing a quadrella in the race, On the Bubbles followed wins by Melody Belle in 2017, Avantage (Fastnet Rock) 2018, and Yourdeel (Dundeel) 2019 - all three named Champion Two-Year-Old. While previously, Te Akau had won the event with Kindacross (Cape Cross) and Maroofity (Maroof).

On the Bubbles notched the 21st two-year-old win (strike rate 2.2) this season for Jamie Richards, who recorded his 45th Group One win as a trainer.

At the completion of an outstanding juvenile season, On the Bubbles had provided a couple of distinguished highlights this year. He went out on a great note in the Sires' and shapes as a force next season in the three-year-old classics.