On the Bubbles Delivers Fifth Karaka Million 2YO for Te Akau

Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis has been a powerhouse on the buyers’ bench at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka for more than a decade, and that dominance has flowed over into a $1m DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) record that is unlikely to ever be matched. 

In partnership with champion trainer Jamie Richards, the syndication juggernaut has now celebrated five consecutive victories in New Zealand’s richest two-year-old race, which is restricted to graduates of NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series.

$90,000 Book 1 purchase On the Bubbles (Brazen Beau) was the latest addition to that list, scoring a brilliant victory from the outside gate in the 2021 edition on Saturday.

If that wasn’t enough, he led home a stable clean sweep of all of the first four placings. Sneaky Shark (Capitalist) finished second, followed by Avonallo (NZ) (Belardo) in third and Sophisticardo (NZ) (Burgundy) fourth. The Te Akau team had previously celebrated two Karaka Million 2YO quinellas and a trifecta.

“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 (NZ) (Savabeel) come back last year to become the first horse to ever complete the Karaka Million 2YO-Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) 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.”

Victories in both of his previous appearances had earned On the Bubbles a position among the favourites for this year’s Karaka Million, although his chances took a knock when he came out with the extreme outside gate in Wednesday’s barrier draw at Karaka.

But jockey Johnathan Parkes gave him a dream ride on Saturday, scything forward within the first 400 metres to take up a perfect position in fourth, one off the rail.

The Te Akau team’s extraordinary dominance was never more obvious than coming up to the home turn, where the Richards-trained Avonallo had the lead and a quartet of runners in the famous tangerine colours loomed ominously behind him.

It was On the Bubbles who stood tallest of all in the straight, bursting to the lead and powering clear to score a superb victory by a length and three-quarters.

On the Bubbles has now had three starts for three wins, earning $574,800 in stakes for the Te Akau Splash of Dom Racing Partnership – more than six times his purchase price.

“I’m very grateful to the connections for entrusting me with the ride in this big race today,” Parkes said. “He’s a super horse and he’s done really well.

“I got caught wide in the early stages, and I had to decide whether to go back or forward. I decided that I might as well keep rolling and go forward. He makes it easy with his cruising speed.

“His first win at Awapuni last month was impressive, and I thought he improved quite a lot when he came here and won a couple of weeks ago. He’s done that again today. It’s exciting.”

Richards paid tribute to Parkes’ outstanding ride.

“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.”

Vendor	Leanach Lodge
Purchaser	Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)
Breeding	Brazen Beau – More Bubbles
Sale	Lot 116, Karaka 2020 Book 1, $90,000
Bred by	Burnewang North Pastoral