5 Win Wednesday - Win 5 Bubbles Await Celebrate

Making it five on the local programme for trainer Mark Walker, Bubbles Await (3 g Almanzor - Champagne Katie, by Darci Brahma) cut a fine picture winning the $14,000 Maiden 1400 metres on 21 September at Matamata.

Sometimes when a horse wins you sense something about them, and Bubbles Await appeared to have that look.

There was considerable merit in the two fifths posted by Bubbles Awaits, which was duly recognised by punters and he returned $3.80 & $1.40 on the TAB tote.

He came from clear last in the Maiden 970 metres on 3 August at Cambridge (poly-track), won in track record time by stable-mate Stonybreck (Tavistock), and finished close up in the same race as Wild Night (winner earlier on the card) in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 27 August at Te Rapa.

Steadied back last from the outside gate (10), rider Michael McNab bided his time before setting off on a searching run from eight lengths astern at the 600m. Quickly, Bubbles Await circumnavigated the field and held strong in a long sustained run to win by two and a quarter lengths. It was quite possibly the biggest winning performance on the day.

“He was struggling down on the inside, so I got out into the better going and he was away,” McNab said. “He was really kind and it might be the further the better.”

Stable-mate and race favourite Prismatic (Savabeel) finished third, suggesting a requirement of improved footing.

In the race sponsored by Waharoa Transport, Bubbles Await ran 1400 metres in 1:29.9, last 600m in 38.4, on Heavy10 footing.

“I really liked the way he relaxed at the back of the field,” said trainer Mark Walker, notching his 33^rdwinner this season. “When Michael (McNab) clicked him up across the top, I thought even though the track is wet, he was coming into it quickly and I liked the way he won.

“He's definitely a horse with a future and bigger things in store for him.”

The win provided a double on the programme for Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor (Wootten Bassett), which included stable-mate Zantabulous, while Te Akau also trains his exciting Karaka Million 2YO winning colt Dynastic, who resumed with a huge effort to win the El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m) at Hastings.

Owned by Te Akau Bring Out The Bubbles Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MZNM), he was bought by David Ellis CNZM for $230,000 at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Wentwood Grange, who also bred him under their banner Llanhennock Trust.

Bubbles Await is from dual winner and stakes' performed mare Champagne Katie, by Champion five-time Group One winning sire Darci Brahma (Danehill), also bought as a yearling by David Ellis CNZM at Karaka.

“He was a beautiful physical specimen, with a great walk, chestnut coloured, very athletic, and a natural running type,” Ellis said.

“It was an exciting day for Almanzor, with another two winners, and what a promising sire he's shaping up to be.

“We think both our Almanzor's that won today are capable of getting black type, and with Dynastic it's pretty exciting stuff.

“We were impressed with his progeny from the first time we laid eyes on them and they're starting to confirm their looks.

“Karyn and I are so grateful for the efforts of everyone in the team. For Mark to have trained so many (33) winners in the first seven weeks of the season is incredible and to do that everything has to work seamlessly.

“All the team have smiles on their faces, we're hopefully coming towards the end of a particularly wet winter, and tomorrow night (22 Sept.) we'll all get together and celebrate at the Matamata Racing Awards.

“Both our stable jockey (Opie Bosson) and Mark are leading their respective Premierships and while it's a long season ahead, it's still great to have such a good start.

“Our vets, blacksmiths, all our team on the farm at Te Akau Stud that break in the young horses and spell them when they come home for a rest, everyone plays such an important part - it's a really big team effort.”

Bubbles Await was strapped by Sarah West.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz