Richards Remains Bubbly Despite Wide Gate

 

TDN Australia & New Zealand (Thoroughbred Daily News) reports:

 

Written by Paul Vettise

 

Unbeaten filly Millefiori (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) has come into favouritism for Saturday's Karaka Million 2YO Classic following the barrier draw, although trainer Jamie Richards remains bullish about the chances of another undefeated stablemate.

Millefiori earned a NZ$3.40 quote for the Double Tree by Hilton-sponsored feature after she landed gate five and On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau), who will jump from stall 15 before scratchings, drifted to NZ$4.60.

Prior to the barrier draw, Richards sided with On The Bubbles as his leading hope and hasn't jumped ship, taking heart from history as star filly Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) bolted home in 2019 from the outside alley.

“On The Bubbles is going to just need a bit of luck and we've won it from out there before so why can't we do it again?” Richards said.

Out of the Sebring mare More Bubbles, On The Bubbles was bred by Burnewang North and bought at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale by Ben Kwok and Bevan Smith Bloodstock for $60,000.

He was re-offered at New Zealand Bloodstock's Yearling Sale by Leanach Lodge and knocked down to Te Akau's David Ellis for NZ$90,000.

On The Bubbles wasted no time in a return on that investment with a first-up success at Awapuni before winning at Ellerslie earlier this month. He was ridden on both occasions by Johnathan Parkes who will again be in the saddle.

“I like the fact that he is a winner and he's come through the right race. He couldn't have been more impressive last-start so he is going the right way,” Richards said.

 

Millefiori has won both of her outings at Ellerslie and Tauranga and will be partnered by Danielle Johnson while Lisa Allpress is on Avonallo (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}), Troy Harris rides Sophisticardo (NZ) (Burgundy) and Samantha Collett will guide Sneaky Shark (Capitalist) to complete the Te Akau assault.

Listed Welcome S. winner Avonallo is raced by breeder Little Avondale Stud and Chris Rutten, who has won the 2-year-old feature with Vespa (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}) and the 3-year-old edition with Scott Base (NZ) (Dalghar {Fr}).

Avonallo, currently at NZ$9.50, will be ridden by Lisa Allpress and Rutten will have no specific pre-race instructions to offer.

“I will leave it to the jockey where she goes from there (barrier nine),” he said. “Lisa has been riding really well and she is in form at the moment. It is great to have her onboard.

“She was rapt when she came up and worked him the other day.”

Millefiori accounted for Mr Blue Sky (Zoustar) at their last meeting and the Tony Pike-trained colt has again had the misfortune to jump from another tricky alley in gate 12.

“He's a really nice horse, but he can't cop a barrier so we'll be riding him a bit quieter on Saturday,” he said.

 

Blanket representation

Te Akau will be represented in every race on Saturday's card, with the well-fancied Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic and is again taking a line through Probabeel when assessing her chances from gate 11.

Following Amarelinha's dashing last-start victory in the G2 Eight Carat Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, Ellis likened the filly to history-maker Probabeel, the only horse to have won the Karaka 2 and 3-year-old features.

“I don't know whether that is right, time will tell, but it was a terrific effort and she's a beautiful filly who has grown into an outstanding type,” he said.

Amarelinha was a NZ$300,000 purchase out of breeder Waikato Stud's draft and is out of Hopscotch (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), an unraced half-sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Metal Bender (NZ) (Danasinga).

Richards also has Perfect Scenario (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Supreme Khan (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) in the 3-year-old feature and they drew contrasting gates with the former in the ace and the latter to jump from the outside stall.

Amarelinha is the NZ$2.10 favourite for the 3-year-old Classic with the unbeaten G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), also bred and sold by Waikato Stud, at NZ$2.40

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