Time has been called on the racing career of former top juvenile On The Bubbles.

Purchased out of Leanach Lodge’s 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $90,000, On The Bubbles went on to become a standout two-year-old, winning four and placing in two of his six starts as a juvenile.

On The Bubbles won his first three races, including the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m), before placing in the Gr.3 Waikato Stud Slipper (1200m) and Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), and capped the season in style when winning the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni.

He retuned as a three-year-old to win the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and followed that up with victory in the Listed Mufhasa Stakes (1400m) and runner-up effort in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m).

The son of Brazen Baeau subsequently performed below expectations and underwent a couple of wind operations. He returned to his winning ways at Ashburton in October, however, two subsequent below par efforts in the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) and Listed Stewards’ Stakes (1200m) led trainer Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson to bring the curtain down on a great racing career.

“He was a very good horse,” Walker said. “Obviously the underlying condition he developed, two separate wind operations, just finally caught up with him.

“But he retired sound, healthy, will make a lovely showing horse, and he deserves a really happy retirement.”