On The Bubbles For Sure - 3 Win Derby Day

Course specialist On the Bubbles (3 g Brazen Beau - More Bubbles, by Sebring) extended his fabulous record in the $80,000 Stella Artois Mufhasa Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on Derby Day at Ellerslie.

The fifth of six consecutive Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winners for Te Akau, On the Bubbles won the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, and although joyless in Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m), he was back in business after being freshened and trialled.

Teaming up again with KM winning jockey Johnathan Parkes, recording five wins and two seconds from seven starts as a partnership, On the Bubbles capitalised on a good trip and it was obvious 150m out that he had the measure of stable-mate I Wish I Win (Savabeel).

“Obviously, he's been such a great horse to me and he's come out again and done the job well,” Parkes said. “He had a nice draw (2) today. I was able to pop him out, possie up, got a nice run into the race, and he quickened really well at the top of the straight.

“He carried three-kilos more than the rest of the field, so he's up in the weights and still won the race really well. He felt right up there with how he usually does and he's going really well.”

Interestingly, the first three, which included third placed Bonny Lass (Super Easy), also provided the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) trifecta last season.

“Unfortunately, he got a torrid run in the Karaka 3YO mile and, entitled to run last, he still battled away and was beaten two and a half lengths,” said trainer Jamie Richards, reflecting on his previous start.

“He's had a nice freshen-up since then, put in his normal sort of ordinary trial at Pukekohe, but his work since has been really strong and he got the job done today. He was given a lovely ride by Parksey.

“He's a tough horse. The other horse was coming, but you could just see that he wanted to be there. He's a hard horse to run down and loves racing.

“Take nothing away from I Wish I Win either. It was a bit of a shambles at the back of the field, chopping and changing, so to come from where he did it was a very good effort.”

On Dead4 footing, On The Bubbles ran 1400 metres in slick 1:22.6 and drifted in betting to pay $3.30 & $1.80 on NZ TAB tote.

Both On The Bubbles and I Wish I Win are scheduled to join other stable representatives in $260,000 Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 19 March at Trentham. On The Bubbles is $4.00 fixed odds second favourite, behind stable-mate Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), $3.00.

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $90,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Leanach Lodge, and owned by Te Akau Splash Of Dom Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), On The Bubbles has won six of 10 starts and nearly 10 times his purchase price in prize money: $860,450.

“He's a phenomenal racehorse and the owners have had some incredible thrills,” Ellis said. “He's been a Karaka Million and Sires' winner as a two-year-old, and been able to win a couple of really good races this season at Ellerslie.

“We've got family who share in the horse, which is really special, and it looks like he'll be pretty competitive in two weeks time in the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Trentham.”

On The Bubbles has a half-brother by Impending (Lonhro), Lot 433, draft of Curraghmore Stud, at the Karaka Book 1 Sale, commencing Monday 7 March.

On The Bubbles provided Te Akau with their third consecutive Mufhasa Stakes' victory, following Star of Bombay (Atlante) and Need I Say More (No Nay Never).

On the Bubbles was strapped by Sarah West.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz