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Burnewang North-bred colt becomes tenth stakes winner for Darley’s Brazen Beau
The Jamie Richards-trained On The Bubbles (2 g ex More Bubbles by Sebring) became the fifth consecutive winner of the Karaka 2YO Million (RL, 1200m) for Te Akau Racing when he scored a dominant length and three quarter victory in the 2021 running of the race at Ellerslie on Saturday evening. Richards trained the first four across the line in the race and the victory also provided Darley stallion Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) with his tenth stakes winner.
Sneaky Shark (Capitalist) finished second with Avonallo (Belardo) a further length back in third while Sophisticardo (Burgundy) was fourth.
"I've always said that racing is an opportunity to make dreams into reality," syndicate manager Karyn Fenton-Ellis said. "A five-peat in the Karaka Million is beyond our wildest dreams.
"It's amazing to add another win today, after winning this iconic race in all of the last four years, and also having Probabeel come back last year to become the first horse to ever complete the Karaka Million 2YO - Karaka Million 3YO Classic double.
"There's nothing that gives us greater pride, and David (Ellis) bought all of these Karaka Million winners at Karaka. This year's sale starts tomorrow, and believe you me, we'll be back in force again.
"It's an incredible achievement by Jamie Richards, who will go down as one of the greatest trainers this country has ever produced.
"This has developed into a truly iconic event, and we are indebted to the foresight of Sir Peter Vela and the New Zealand Bloodstock team, and what they've done for the New Zealand racing industry."
Coming into Saturday's race unbeaten in his first two career starts, On The Bubbles was early favourite for the race but became less fancied in the betting when drawing the outside gate. However, a good ride from Johnathan Parkes saw the gelding go forward from the gates to settle in fourth, one off the rail.
Avonallo led the field around the home turn before the winner went to the front and was challenged by stablemates Sneaky Shark and Sophisticardo on both sides whilst Avonallo stayed on the rail. On The Bubbles however asserted his authority and pulled away to a decisive victory.
"It was a lovely ride by Johnathan," Richards said. "After breaking from the outside gate, it was a big effort to get into that good spot, and a great performance from the horse.
"This is a big team effort, and I'm really proud of the whole team. All of our horses ran well today. They all produced big performances, although perhaps Millefiori (eighth) didn't quite handle the quick back-up from Tauranga last week. She'll make a lovely three-year-old in time.
"Sneaky Shark ran a great race for second, and Avonallo and Sophisticardo both fought on really well for those third and fourth placings.
"I have to say thank you to David and Karyn for buying these lovely horses, and scenes like this today are what racing's all about. There's a great young group of owners involved in this horse, and this is a fantastic result for them."
Bred by Burnewang North Pastoral, On The Bubbles was bought by B Kwok and Bevan Smith Bloodstock for $60,000 at the 2019 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale. He was subsequently reoffered last year by Leanach Lodge and bought by David Ellis for NZ$90,000 and now unbeaten in all three of his career starts, he has now won NZ$574,800 in prize money.
The colt is the first foal out of placed Sebring (More Than Ready) mare More Bubbles who was bought by Burnewang North and the late Steve Brem for $100,000 at the 2019 Inglis Great Southern Bloodstock Sale.
More Bubbles, who is a half-sister to Myer Classic (registered Empire Rose Stakes) (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Politeness (Street Sense) being out of Berengaria (Commands), was covered by Darley shuttler Frosted (Tapit) last November having produced a colt by Impending (Lonhro) last September.
Darley's Brazen Beau has three crops of racing age and his stakes winners are headed by the Group 2 winning pair Pretty Brazen and Colada, who races in Hong Kong as Prince Of Frog.
